In defeat, Nick Kyrgios was at his best against Rafael Nadal

If only Nick Kyrgios could harness his talent on a regular basis, we might see more of the quality we saw against Rafael Nadal.

Nick Kyrgios (left) and Rafael Nadal shake hands after the Spaniard’s four-set Wimbledon second round victory overnight. Picture: AFP

It is no secret Nick Kyrgios conjures the most extreme of reactions from all sections of society.

On centre court at Wimbledon overnight, even the legendary Rafael Nadal proved incapable of being ensnared by the theatrics of the most polarising player in tennis, a man who shapes as the antithesis to the greatest claycourter ever.

And it prompted the Spaniard to invest with an intensity incredible even for him, but that was the level required to topple a talent who played one of the matches of his life in a true highlight of this Wimbledon.

It is rare that a match billed with the level of hype that preceded Nadal-Kyrgios VII matches the expectation.

Their recent enmity, the frank character assessments of each other and their shared history at Wimbledon and elsewhere helped spark a narrative rare and perhaps unique for a match played so early in a grand slam.

Some of the most entertaining tennis you'll ever see!

Rafael Nadal defeats Nick Kyrgios in four sets, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/5bDDrfIMqB

— 7Sport (@7Sport) July 4, 2019

But like the phenomenal power of a Kyrgios serve, or the ferocity of a Nadal forehand, it proved simply breathtaking, exceeding all expectations and beyond.

Nadal eventually won 6-3 3-6 7-6 (5) 7-6 (3) in a tick over three hours of tennis of the highest quality. The statistical sheet proves that the eyes did not deceive.

Kyrgios hit 58 winners compared to only 27 unforced errors, served a remarkable 29 aces and was almost unbreakable after his first service game, yet was still beaten.

Perhaps the only despair is that this is the type of match Kyrgios would be frequently playing — and far later in grand slam tournaments — if he could harness his talent on a regular basis. But the blame lies solely with him in regards to that, as he acknowledged afterwards.

Nadal takes the third set in the tiebreak!

It's a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 lead after 2:07 of play #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/z3t19llfTI

— 7Sport (@7Sport) July 4, 2019

Not once did it feel possible to avert your eyes from the action for fear of missing a memorable moment, though there were far too many to list.

But here are some excerpts pulled from a masterpiece.

There was the service game Kyrgios started with an ace clubbed near 220kmh and finished it with another served underarm that even drew a smile from the Spaniard.

Kyrgios soared like Superman for smashes. Nadal fist-pumped with ferocity after thunderous forehands.

There it is again!

Two underarm serves by Kyrgios, two points won. Can't argue with the results.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/URND25HcYJ

— 7Sport (@7Sport) July 4, 2019

The Australian raged at length with umpire Damian Dumosois — and to be fair, he did have a reasonable basis — while his rival knocked a tennis ball between his feet and head with the aplomb of a Real Madrid star at the end of the court.

There were lighter moments, with clear examples the landing of a swallow on centre court and a sneezing fit from Kyrgios that delayed play at different stages.

But it descended to the darker extremes as well. The intensity of a glare lasting several seconds that Nadal that directed at Kyrgios late in the third set betrayed the angst of Nadal.

The Australian almost snapped the left-hander in two with a forehand thundered straight at him, then turned his back.

Well. Nadal is not happy at this from Kyrgios.#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/V0oyHt39VQ

— 7Sport (@7Sport) July 4, 2019

Nadal was aggrieved there was no apology, though Kyrgios later said he saw no need for one and he has a point — the ball did not strike the Spaniard after all.

It did rattle the legend for the slightest of moments. On the next point Nadal served the first of only two double-faults for the match. But he regrouped — champions nearly always do — as the match and tension reached a peak rarely witnessed in tennis.

And the prolonged emotion Nadal showed on holding serve was an another indication of his investment in beating Kyrgios.

The 33-year-old stared at his box for a prolonged period as he walked backwards to his chair, thumping his chest before levelling a fist pump to the crowd.

It showed just how lost he too was in the intensity, for he abandoned a career-long habit at the change of ends of refocusing and rechecking himself before heading to his chair, studiously avoiding stepping on every line en route.

Sportsmanship from @NickKyrgios.

He tells Nadal to challenge the call, and indeed it had clipped the line 👏#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/ATI3Fjyipe

— 7Sport (@7Sport) July 4, 2019

Ultimately, it was the Spaniard’s ability to maintain a marginally higher level in the tiebreakers that proved the difference.

Kyrgios lost the opening point of the fourth set with a simple error, netting a high forehand volley. For once, he was not showboating. Perhaps things might have been different had he been.

And the adage about never given a sucker an even break becomes even more pronounced when one is pitted against the best, for Nadal was able to hold that slight advantage to the end.

Rafael Nadal gets a pat on the back from Nick Kyrgios following their Wimbledon epic. Picture: AFP

Their handshake was cursory but both received a standing ovation as they left the court, the pair pausing briefly to sign autographs. Even in defeat, this was Kyrgios at his best.

It is to be hoped this version will appear more frequently, but given the history of the world no.43, it would be wise to reserve judgment.