Rafael Nadal (left) and Nick Kyrgios shake hands after their fourth-round clash at the Australian Open. (Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal talked about Nick Kyrgios after a hard-fought win over the local boy.
World No. 1 Rafael Nadal was of the opinion that if Australian Nick Kyrgios started to play with a positive attitude then he would be good for tennis, after his fourth-round win over the latter at the ongoing Australian Open.
Nadal vs Kyrgios rivalry both on and off the pitch had garnered much attention in the sporting circles was once again reignited when the two met at the Rod Laver Arena recently.
However, it was Nadal who prevailed over the Australian with all his experience and athleticism to secure a quarterfinal berth after a hard-fought 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6 win.
Nadal will next meet fifth seed Dominic Thiem for a place in the semifinals on Wednesday. The game against Kyrgios was Nadal’s best match of the tournament so far after the Australian made him toil hard to emerge victorious.
The 19-time Grand Slam winner never gave up despite losing the second set and experiences brief pressure moments on court. He proved his credentials as the world’s number one male tennis player by winning two tie-breaks, which ultimately decided the game.
What can I say about Nick? When he plays like today, with a positive attitude, he is very good for our sport,” said Nadal, who has so far won just once in Australia, that too back in 2009.
“It was a really tough game. You could say that I controlled the first set, but in fact, against Nick, it is impossible to control. It was seen in the second set,” analysed the Spaniard, who was talking to the media during a post-match press conference. The two have now faced each other eight times, with the Spaniard leading the race 5-3 against his Australian counterpart.
Local boy Kyrgios had earlier entered the match wearing a Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant jersey for the warm-up as a tribute to the NBA legend who passed away last Sunday after losing his life in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, California.
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