The Spaniard saves his undefeated (19-0) in 2022 in three hours of tension and dedication
MADRID, 18 Mar. (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Spanish tennis player Rafa Nadal reached the semifinal round in the Indian Wells tournament by beating Nick Kyrgios (7-6(0), 5-7, 6-4) this Thursday, saving the unbeaten record of 2022 in an always uncomfortable match against the Australian, who now quotes him with the also Spanish Carlos Alcaraz or the British Cameron Norrie.
Nadal made it 19-0 so far in 2022, seeking his fourth title after conquests at the Melbourne tournament, the Australian Open and the Acapulco tournament. The road is being paved for the three-time champion in the Californian desert, but the Balearic game is growing and adapting to the demand in equal parts.
The Spaniard submitted to a Kyrgios who seemed out of the game after losing a first set that was tied, in the middle of his show of gestures, rackets on the ground and conversation with everyone. The Australian knew how to focus and demanded another performance of great merit so far this year from the champion of 21 ‘greats’.
Against Kyrgios, the one from Manacor, who confessed in the previous one that his left foot is beginning to bother him, he found another server like against Opelka, another quality rival in his blows and a lot of danger. The Australian, softer lately when it comes to speaking Spanish, is a time bomb but Nadal was an artificer.
The Spaniard began by giving up his serve with a double fault and Kyrgios took the first lead (1-3). Despite commanding the score, the Australian soon brought out his repertoire of shouts, loud comments calling “very lucky” at some point he won his rival and finally throwing the racket until it broke.
Nadal stayed focused in the middle of the show, but Kyrgios stayed in front with a good serve, like during this week. Until the end, once again, the man from Manacor waited for his moment and, in a great defense, when his rival served to close the set, he achieved the ‘break’ that made Kyrgios lose control.
Nadal turned the tables after being 3-5 and, although the Australian held on to force sudden death, he took a blank knee and another sanction for his language. After losing his first serve in the tournament, the Australian had doubts, although he calmed down not to throw the match.
Kyrgios calmed down and again created problems for the 21 ‘big’ champion, who began to suffer with his serve. The double faults were already assiduous when the Australian scored the rest of the set, almost to the ground to reach a drop shot. More wear and more effort on that operated foot in 2021, in a Nadal that he went on to suffer not to lose his first match since his great comeback.
The Spaniard did not have a calm game and Kyrgios was serious with his serve. Then, the epic champion of the ‘Aus Open’ started again in time to squeeze the rest until finding the ‘break’. The world number 132, in the invitational tournament, led the farewell to him with another reproach to a spectator and losing his serve with a double fault, with an ugly cry from a fan in the stands in between.