Australian Open 2020: Rafael Nadal ends Nick Kyrgios’s summer revival tour
After a thriller of a match, Rafael Nadal hails rival Nick Kyrgios saying he could a force for good in the sport if he continues to temper his antics.
Australian Open live, Day 8 from Melbourne Park.
A summer of immense promise for Nick Kyrgios came to an end at the hands of Rafael Nadal, but not before he gave the Spanish superstar a significant scare in an Australian Open thriller.
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After shedding tears during an emotional tribute to basketball legend Kobe Bryant at the beginning of the match, Kyrgios fell marginally short of toppling a giant of his own sport when beaten 6-3 3-6 7-6 (6) 7-6 (4) in 3hr 38min on Rod Laver Arena.
It was another enthralling clash between two rivals distinct in style and manner, but ultimately Nadal proved steadiest in critical junctures during a battle of sustained excellence.
It is rare that the 19-time major champion is beaten in a test of will, though Kyrgios did his very best to break him in a display of great fight.
With Nadal serving for the match at 5-4 in the fourth set, the inspired Australian broke him for the first time in two sets to revive his hopes.
But Kyrgios, who wore the No.8 Los Angeles Lakers singlet of Bryant during the warm-up, ultimately found the master a touch too good in both tiebreakers once again.
Nadal and Kyrgios have engaged in verbal battles off the court as well but the Spaniard said he is impressed with the commitment Kyrgios has shown this summer.
In a month where Kyrgios played a significant role in the fundraising activities by athletes for those affected by the bushfire crisis, he is more concerned with trying to improve his behaviour.
“I feel like I’ve made progress as a human. (As) a tennis player, I don’t really care about as much,” he said.
“But yeah, I mean, I feel good. Obviously today was horrendous, like the news (with Kobe Bryant). But I want to keep going in this direction, for sure.”
The Spaniard reiterated his comments during his press conference, saying there was no doubt Kyrgios could be a force for good in the sport if he tempered certain aspects of his behaviour.
“When he wants to play tennis, when he’s focused on what he’s doing, I think he’s a very important player for our sport because he has a big talent. He’s one of these players that can be very, very interesting for the crowd,” Nadal said.
“I am never against his way or style to play. When I criticised him in the past, (it) is because I think he did a couple of things that are not right and are not the right image for our sport and for the kids. But when he’s doing the right things, I am the first one who support this.
“Personally I saw him playing during the whole tournament almost every match, and he has been great, with (a) very positive attitude. Personally, I like to watch him play when he’s doing that way. I think everybody likes to watch Nick plays when he’s able to play like this.
“His talent is to be one of the best of the world, without a doubt, with good chances to fight for every tournament.”
The Australian said he appreciated his rival’s assessment of his talent. The challenge, he said, was to harness it on a regular basis.
“I appreciate it, one. But I already know that. I’ve known that for the last four years,” he said.
“But the trouble for me is being able to actually just produce the same attitude over and over again.
“I mean, hopefully I can keep doing it. I’m just taking it day by day, trying to be positive, just bring positive vibes.”
Kyrgios wore a Los Angeles Lakers singlet bearing the No 8 of Bryant on to Rod Laver Arena prior to the match.
“When I woke up to the news, it was pretty emotional. It was pretty heavy, like, all day,” he said.
“Obviously I was having basketball on at my house, watching the games. It’s horrible news.
“(But) if anything, it motivated me. If you look at the things he stood for, what he wanted to be remembered by, I felt like, if anything, it helped me tonight. When I was down a break in the fourth, I was definitely thinking about it. I fought back.”
The scoreline was identical to their second round clash at Wimbledon last July. Kyrgios is so close to mastery but it again eluded him against Nadal.
The deeds of the Australian throughout the summer have prompted plenty of discussion, particularly after he kickstarted a fundraising response to the bushfire crisis among athletes that has raised millions of dollars for those affected.
He has largely played superbly, beaten only by Nadal in an Australian Open fourth round and fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut in an ATP Cup semi-final.
Importantly, his effort could not be questioned at any stage and he pressed the 12-time Roland Garros champion right through until his final point.
Stretched to the limit by Karen Khachanov in the longest match he has ever played two nights earlier, Kyrgios gave everything he could muster again.
Flashes of frustration aside, one of which caused him to smash a racquet in the pivotal third set tie-breaker, the 24-year-old also held his composure as well as can be remembered.
Watching Kyrgios throughout a summer that began in Brisbane and ended on Monday night was great theatre. Kyrgios appeared to be enjoying the sport and thrived on the battle.
As he sat at the change of ends with Nadal about to serve for the match in the fourth set, he could be overheard muttering “one more effort. One more effort”. This was a desire to win.
As a result of his on-court deeds, the right-hander will return to the top 20. If he can sustain his renewed commitment, the ranking will rise and further opportunities to excel will come.
That is all in the hands of the Canberran and his camp. He remains without an official coach but he does have a burgeoning team of support staff who have worked to keep him focused.
Nadal, meanwhile, has improved the longer the Australian Open has progressed in his own bid for history.
The 2009 Australian Open champion closed to within one grand slam title of his great rival Roger Federer when successful at the French and US Opens last year.
His next rival is Dominic Thiem, the man star he has beaten in the last two French Open finals, who reached the last eight with a convincing 6-2 6-4 6-4 win over Gael Monfils.
It will be another challenge for Nadal, for the Austrian has shown he is more than capable of matching it with the best on hardcourt as well as his preferred clay.
The world No 1 watched Thiem destroy Monfils and is aware of the challenge he will pose but is confident in how he is progressing through the tournament.
“We know each other very well. He is a good friend on tour. He has great character and he hits the ball very strong,” he said.
“I really believe I am moving in the right direction during the tournament. Hopefully this victory gave me a little more. I am going to try my very best.”
Below: How the match and day eight of the Australian Open unfolded.
Lachlan Moffet Gray 9.51pm: Rafa clinches the third set
Rafael Nadal has taken the third set Nick Kyrgios in another heated exchange dragged on past the hour mark.
Heart in mouth tennis.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2020
World No.1 @RafaelNadal takes a 6-3 3-6 7-6(6) lead over Kyrgios.
He's 👆 set away from the #AO2020 quarterfinals.#AusOpen pic.twitter.com/YCFufpS0TJ
As the duelling pair rallied their way into a tie break, Kyrgios finally lost his patience and claimed his first victim for the night: his racquet.
💥💥💥💥
— Eurosport UK (@Eurosport_UK) January 27, 2020
A furious @NickKyrgios smashes his racket 😡
🇦🇺 Watch the #AusOpen LIVE
📺 Eurosport 1 and 2
📱💻🖥 Eurosport Player: https://t.co/0Fa7uXMVB9 pic.twitter.com/YpAEncxz8G
Will his second be Nadal himself?
A double fault from the Spaniard brought the tie-break score to 6-6 before a well-placed volley paved the way for Nadal to take the third set.
Meanwhile former champion Angelique Kerber has lost to Russia’s Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 7-6, 6-7, 6-2.
Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova knocks out former champion Angelique Kerber to reach her second Aus Open quarter-final in a row!ðŸ‘
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) January 27, 2020
Watch: @9Gem
Stream: https://t.co/8hz1rXviuC#9WWOS #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/YDn3b4R63D
Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.44pm: Kyrgios levels the playing field
Nick Kyrgios has taken the second set 6-3. The Australian is moving well, and showing no signs of fatigue following his epic four-hour win over Russian Karen Khachanov on Saturday night.
Rising to the occasion.@NickKyrgios levels this fourth round battle with Nadal, taking the second set 6-3 in 46 minutes after dropping the first by the same scoreline.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2020
Will the 23rd seed cause a massive upset tonight? #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/EavQx6WnWZ
It's never not 'tweener time 👌@NickKyrgios | #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/RlqolRdCOz
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2020
Lachlan Moffet Gray 8.02pm: Nadal takes the opening set
Rafael Nadal has taken the opening set 6-3 against Nick Kyrgios in just 36 minutes.
In a hurry!@RafaelNadal clinches the opening set 6-3 over Kyrgios in 36 minutes.
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2020
Can the Aussie turn things around? #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/lwKdm9c3s0
7.06pm: Kyrgios’ tribute to Bryant
Nick Kyrgios is wearing Kobe Bryant’s No.8 jersey tonight as a tribute following the former NBA star’s death in a helicopter crash.
Goosebumps!@NickKyrgios & @RafaelNadal take a stroll down the 'Walk of Champions' which will lead them to tonight's battle ground: @RodLaverArena. #AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/S38azQSFha
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2020
Courtney Walsh 5.12pm: Muguruza into quarterfinals
After a staggering run of losses at major level for a player of distinction, Spanish star Garbine Muguruza is enjoying a resurgence in Melbourne.
The Spaniard, who climbed Mt Kilimanjaro in the off-season after a difficult 2019, reached the quarterfinals of the Australian Open for the second time when too strong for Dutch star Kiki Bertens.
Muguruza, who progressed 6-3 6-3, awaits the winner of a clash between three-time major winner Angelique Kerber and 30th seed Anastasia Pavylchenkova later on Monday.
It is the 26-year-old’s first major quarterfinal since an appearance at the French Open in 2018. The Wimbledon and French Open champion arrived in Melbourne having lost in the opening round of her last two majors and finished 2019 with a ranking of 36, her lowest end-of-season position since 2013.
After surviving a match of wildly swinging momentum against American Shebly Rogers in the opening round, which she won 0-6 6-1 6-0, and then edging Australian Ajla Tomljanovic in three sets in the second round, Muguruza has demonstrated signs of her former brilliance.
She thrashed 5th seed Elina Svitolina 6-1 6-2 in the third round and was then too sound in critical moments against Bertens, who defeated world No 1 Ash Barty in the round robin stages of the WTA Finals last October.
Courtney Walsh 3.05pm: Thiem mauls Monfils
Austrian star Dominic Thiem awaits the victor of the highly anticipated clash between Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios.
The dual-French Open finalist reached the quarter-finals of the Australian Open for the first time when outclassing Frenchman Gael Monfils 6-2 6-4 6-4.
It has been an eventful Australian Open for Thiem, who split with one of his coaches, Thomas Muster, after being pushed to the brink by South Australian Alex Bolt in the second round.
The right-hander, who demonstrated he could be more than simply a clay-court star when claiming the Indian Wells Masters last March, will keep a close eye on proceedings tonight on Rod Laver Arena between Nadal and Kyrgios.
“I couldn’t be happier to be in a quarterfinals and to watch that relaxed from home,” he said. “I am also very excited about that match. Obviously it is going to be such an entertaining contest tonight and also in two days, it doesn’t matter who I face.
“I am really excited to watch that match. May the better one win tonight.”
A first quarterfinal down under!@ThiemDomi becomes the first 🇦🇹 since Stefan Koubek in 2002 to reach the #AusOpen final eight defeating Monfils 6-2- 6-4 6-4.#AO2020 pic.twitter.com/rQOZgmDUmH
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2020
Courtney Walsh 1.20pm: Former finalist sends warning
Reigning Wimbledon champion Simona Halep continued to impress in Melbourne after posting a quality win over Elise Mertens.
The third seed was tested by the Belgian talent but showed too much composure on key points and in general play when successful 6-4 6-4 in the fourth-round match.
Halep, who has also won a French Open, was able to combat the aggressive approach of Mertens, who clubbed 36 winners but negated that with 38 unforced errors.
In contrast the Romanian star hit 21 winners but gifted just eight unforced errors to Mertens on a disciplined, precise display to reach the quarter-finals.
Halep, who was beaten by Caroline Wozniacki in the 2018 Australian Open final, awaits the winner of a clash between Anett Kontaveit and Iga Swiatek.
1pm: Simona too slick
Two-time grand slam champion Simona Halep has raced into the quarter-finals with a straight-sets victory over 16th seed Elise Mertens, AFP reports.
The fourth seed won 6-4, 6-4 and plays Estonian 28th seed Anett Kontaveit or unseeded Polish teenager Iga Swiatek in the last eight in Melbourne.
— AFP
Simo Celebration!@Simona_Halep keeps her cool to reach a 13th career Grand Slam quarterfinal, defeating Mertens 6-4 6-4.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/VqTCcFFWpE
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2020
12pm: Halep hits her straps
Super Simo!
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 27, 2020
The No. 4 seed rises up to take the first set 6-4 in a tricky 50 minutes.#AO2020 | #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/Lrko8ibJem
11am: Order of play
Show courts schedule:
Rod Laver Arena: Elise Mertens (BEL x16) v Simona Halep (ROU x4); 12pm Gael Monfils (FRA x10) v Dominic Thiem (AUT x5); Garbine Muguruza (ESP) v Kiki Bertens (NED x9); 7pm Rafael Nadal (ESP x1) v Nick Kyrgios (AUS x23)
Margaret Court Arena: 3pm Daniil Medvedev (RUS x4) v Stan Wawrinka (SUI x15) 5pm Angelique Kerber (GER x17) v Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova (RUS x30)
Melbourne Arena: 12.30pm Anett Kontaveit (EST x28) v Iga Swiatek (POL); 6.30pm Andrey Rublev (RUS x17) v Alexander Zverev (GER x7).
ðŸ“Rod Laver Arena. @ThiemDomi takes on @Gael_Monfils in a blockbuster fourth round clash later today. #AusOpen | #AO2020 pic.twitter.com/TehEKeaFEB
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 26, 2020
10am: Tennis world waits on grudge match
World No.1 Rafael Nadal and home favourite Nick Kyrgios will take their feud into the Australian Open fourth round after a series of bad-tempered exchanges, AFP reports.
Kyrgios, 24, is seeking his second Melbourne quarter-final and his first grand slam title while Nadal, 33, is hunting a record-equalling 20th major crown.
Bubbling animosity has characterised relations between the two, after Nadal accused Kyrgios of lacking respect and the Australian fired back that the Spaniard was “super salty”.
There is also little to split them, with Nadal leading their career head-to-head 4-3 but Kyrgios 2-1 up on hardcourts and an even 1-1 in their grand slam matches, both at Wimbledon.
The second of those, last year, was a torrid affair, with Kyrgios ranting at the umpire, serving underarm and deliberately firing a forehand at the Spaniard.
However, Kyrgios struck a conciliatory tone before Monday’s match, saying there was a “layer of respect” between the two players, despite their differences.
“I don’t really dislike him. I don’t know him at all. Hell of a tennis player. Don’t know him as a person. I’m sure he’s okay,” he said.
“I’m super-excited honestly. Playing one of the greatest tennis players on centre court at your own slam, it’s pretty damn cool.”
Either Nadal or Kyrgios will go into a quarter-final against Gael Monfils or Dominic Thiem, the Austrian fifth seed.
Russian fourth seed Daniil Medvedev plays 2014 champion Stan Wawrinka, with the winner facing German seventh seed Alexander Zverev or Russia’s Andrey Rublev.
In the women’s draw, Wimbledon champion Simona Halep plays Elise Mertens for the prize of a last-eight match-up with 28th seed Anett Kontaveit or Iga Swiatek.
And two-time major-winner Garbine Muguruza faces Kiki Bertens for a quarter-final against 2016 winner Angelique Kerber or Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova.
— AFP
Additional reporting: Agencies
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