Acapulco (Mexico): Rafael Nadal accused Nick Kyrgios of lacking respect ‘for the public, the opponent and himself’ after a stormy defeat to the Australian firebrand at the Mexico Open.
Kyrgios survived three match points to beat top-seeded Nadal 3-6, 7-6 (7/2), 7-6 (8/6) Wednesday and reach the quarterfinals.
However, 17-time major winner Nadal was furious with Kyrgios who at one stage complained of being sick, served underarm late in the match before cupping his ear to the boos of the crowd at the conclusion of the second round tie.
“He is a player with huge talent and could be winning Grand Slams or fighting for the number one ranking,” said Nadal. “But he lacks respect for the public, the opponent and for himself.”
Kyrgios, ranked 72 in the world, hit back at Nadal.
“I’m different, Rafa’s different. He can focus on what he needs to do. He doesn’t know the journey I have been on, he doesn’t know anything about me,” said Kyrgios who famously stunned Nadal as a teenager at Wimbledon in 2014.
“I am not going to listen at all. That’s the way I play. The way he plays is very slow between points,” he added. “I’ve got my game, he’s got his game. People are different, that’s the sport.”
Nadal, playing his first tournament since falling to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, had three chances to close out Wednesday’s match after taking a 6-3 lead in the third-set tiebreaker.
Nadal was just wide with a passing shot to make it 6-6, double-faulted to give Kyrgios a chance and sailed a backhand long to end the match after three hours and three minutes.
Kyrgios leveled his head-to-head record with Nadal at 3-3 and will play three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka for a place in the semifinals.
AFP