The 19-year-old Aussie Kyrgios, who turned pro last year, has upset Rafael Nadal in the fourth round at Wimbledon.
Men's No. 2 seed Rafael Nadal has been eliminated in the fourth round of the 2014 Wimbledon Championships. Nick Kyrgios, the No. 144-ranked player in the world, downed Nadal in four sets, punching his ticket to the quarterfinals. Kyrgios won the match by a score of 7-6(5), 5-7, 7-6(5), 6-3.
Kyrgios, who only turned pro last year, has been impressive all tournament, but the 19-year-old Australian looked incredible on Tuesday. He's now the first teenager to beat a world No. 1 at a Grand Slam since ... Nadal did it back in 2005. Kyrgios won the Junior Singles title at the Australian Open in 2013. He's always been regarded as an up-and-comer, but besting Nadal on this stage, this quickly, was not expected.
Kyrgios was actually jumping up and down he was so pumped, specifically when he broke the serve of Nadal in the fourth set to go up in games, 3-1. Kyrgios was sitting at 30-all when Nadal hit a shot long, and then took advantage with a brilliant backhand winner across the court to get the break.
From there, Kyrgios held serve without issue, which is the point everybody realized this could actually be happening. He couldn't keep the pressure on there, though, as Nadal held easily on his next service game, going up 40-0 and then finishing it off with an easy serve. Kyrgios didn't hold quite as easily the next game, but did eventually, taking a 5-2 set lead.
Nadal held, but Kyrgios then was faced with an opportunity to serve for the match. He went up 15-0 with a strong serve, and Nadal went long on the next point on his return, making it 30-0. It was three match points after the next strong serve, which Nadal couldn't return, and the final serve was just as strong as the previous three, sealing the set and the victory.
Kyrgios has now bested two seeded opponents in this tournament, with Nadal and his second-round opponent, men's No. 13 seed Richard Gasquet. Kyrgios needed five sets to win that match, and hasn't won one in straight sets just yet, but he's outworking his opponents late in matches and that's what counts. Kyrgios saved nine match points in that one, tying a Grand Slam record.
Another tough challenge awaits on the quarterfinals for Kyrgios, with him set to take on No. 8 seed Milos Raonic. Raonic made it past No. 10 seed Kei Nishikori on Tuesday to punch his ticket into the quarters.
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