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By Scoop Malinowski
Nick Kyrgios showed the world once again the sort of tennis genius we adore him for, despite all the tanks and unprofessional play.
Kyrgios dominated the best player in the world last night with a shock and awe 62 75 dismissal of Nadal, who tried his very best but was out of his league against the A-plus game of the erratic but spectacular Australian. Nadal came out guns blazing and grunting from the very first ball but he was quickly broken by Kurgios in the opening game.
Kyrgios had a quiet confidence and twinkle in his eye before the match as he told ESPN’s Pam Shriver, “I know what he’s gonna bring and I’m ready for it.” But before the match started, Darren Cahill did not respect Kyrgios’ chances and said bluntly that Nadal is “the heavy favorite.”
Kyrgios has shown that he especially loves playing the top titans of tennis. When Kyrgios plays Federer, Djokovic and Nadal he has a different intensity level compared to when he plays regular randon ATP players. In boxing there is an old maxim that sums it up: “Great champions have trouble getting up for mediocre fights.”
Kyrgios was flying all over the court last night, unleashing aces and winners off both wings all over the court. It was near unbelievable to see Nadal look like a guy ranked about 45 in the world. He looked helpless at times, chasing and netting shots because Nick’s shots were simply on a different warp speed.
It got so bad that Kyrgios then opted to employ some Muhammad Ali showboating, or taunting. With the two break lead, Kyrgios tried a silly tweener shot that he didn’t have to, which Nadal ate up and slashed for a forehand winner. But it was like Muhammad Ali taunting his opponent by doing his famous Ali foot shuffle. Or Sugar Ray Leonard throwing the insulting bolo punches or windmill right fake followed by a surprise mock jab.
The failed tweener didn’t deter Kyrgios at all. Next he tried a Federer saber shot on a return of serve. Again it didn’t work but Nick was sending a very clear message. “I am toying with the best player in the world.”
Nadal had to be burning up inside but he contained his frustrations. Nadal lost the first set 26 but of course mustered up his intensity for the second set. No way was he gonna let this cocky whippersnapper insult him in this manner.
Nadal raised his level and had a break point early but failed to convert. Nick raised his level too. When Kyrgios is playing fully inspired, trying to prove something, he is nearly unstoppable. He was emotionally locked in from the get-go, shouting come-ons and exhortations to himself through the entire match. There were no falters or brain cramps, Nick was locked in from the first point to the last.
There were no signs at all that Nick hates tennis. To the contrary, last night was what Nick loves most about tennis. Playing the best brings out his very best. And that kind of special genius was worth seeing for all the inexplicable tank performances.
Though Nadal fought back to save match point and break Nick for 5-6 – erupting one of his huge fist pumps to announce his raging intensity and hunger to destroy his formidable adversary – Nadal blundered in the following service game with mediocre play. Nadal was broken easily to squander the match 62 75.
Nick dominated the entire duel with an unforgettable performance that instantly vaults him as one of the lead favorites to win his first major at the US Open.
If Kyrgios can sustain this level of intensity and concentration, the US Open will be his. But then again, who knows which Nick Kyrgios will show up if he has to play first round against Ryan Harrison or Lukas Lacko on court seventeen at 11 am?
