Rafael Nadal won Nick Kyrgios a great match 7-6 (7-0), 5-7 and 6-4 and qualified for the semifinals of the Indian Wells Masters 1000 ATP in the United States, after beating a rival on the shaft that complicated him during the 2 hours and 46 minutes of an epic battle in which he overcame the “tricks” of the which was the 19th victory in the same number of matches played by the Spaniard so far in 2022, which is ranked 4th in the ATP Ranking.
At 35, the Mallorcan continues to prove that he is an elite player and for a reason he is one of the best in history. It should be remembered that Rafa returned in January after a loss of almost six months due to pain in his injured left foot, but on his return he did so at the highest level to the point of remaining undefeated so far in the first quarter of the year.
After beating American Reilly Opelka in the round of 16, he met the 26-year-old oceanist who played him on an equal footing and did merit to win. The intensity of the game also gave rise to magical touches from both of them and it was Kyrgios (132nd) who put on the show and the good tennis, although Nadal took out his historic badge to get a new win.
Kyrgios, who arrived at the event by invitation, dispatched himself with a series of luxuries: he managed to pull twice from below and one of them between his legs that generated the amazement of the 10,000 people present. He then won Nadal a hoot after nine attacks. In addition, two others with subtleties and effect before the bite in the opposite field. Or win a set with a backhand return. All these flashes led to Nadal himself applauding him with the racket.
However, those rabbits from the galley that “el Chico Malo” pulled could not against the experience and validity of Rafa, who won the first set, although then Nick recovered and won the second set. The level of tennis delivered by both made people who attended a historic meeting rave.
The intensity grew and the Australian showed his personality by throwing and breaking his racket or arguing with the umpire for a double fault: “Do your job”, he shouted to the judge of the match, who also argued with a spectator who kept shouting: “Gentleman, here are ten thousand people who want to watch tennis and you are the only one who is screaming like a madman, please,” said the Brazilian referee Carlos Bernardes, who received the applause and ovation from the audience.
The last set was for Nadal, but he must have transpired more than before an opponent nine years younger and who is on the rise. He rallied break points to prevent 0-2. He had a hard time until he resumed the good line of service and, more calmly, he managed to get the overall result forward. He did not find a prize with two breakballs in the fifth game (2-3), although in the seventh Kyrgios committed the double fault that allowed Rafa to capture a hard-working victory.
Now Nadal will play in the semifinals of the contest with the winner of the match played tonight by his compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, and the current defender of the crown in the Californian desert, the British Cameron Norrie.
Rafa has already won this tournament three times, in 2007, 2009 and 2013 and is still aiming to win his fourth consecutive tournament in 2022 following his triumphs at the Australian Open, Melbourne and Acapulco. He started as a professional 20 years ago, he was number 1 in the Ranking, has 91 ATP titles and with 21 Grand Slam, he is the most winning in history ahead of Swiss Roger Federer and Serbian Novak Djokovic, both with 20. Nadal wants to continue making history and this Thursday gave another sign that his hunger for glory is intact.
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