Page 18 - AT

A18 SPORTS
Friday 5 July 2019
Plenty of dramatics as Nadal tops Kyrgios at Wimbledon

for a Grand Slam.”
He is ranked 43rd, and
hasn’t been past the
quarterfinals at a major.
But against Nadal, he dis-
played boundless power,
guile, touch and athleti-
cism.
Kyrgios, his shirt collared
popped just so, seemed
to act at times as if it were
more important to look
cool than to play well.
The between-the-leg shots,
the unnecessary leaping
backhands and all the rest.
On the initial point of the
pivotal fourth-set tiebreak-
er, he jumped high for a
showy overhead instead of
making a safer putaway.
The result? He deposited
his shot ball in the net, then
rolled his eyes and chucked
away a ball.
Soon, the match was over.
Much earlier, he had sev-
eral loud arguments with
chair umpire Damien Du-
musois, complaining about
all sorts of things, including
how long Nadal took be-
United States’ Serena Williams looks down at the ball after losing a point to Slovenia’s Kaja Juvan in a Women’s singles match during tween points and whether
day four of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships in London, Thursday, July 4, 2019. the official was seeking too
Associated Press much attention.
By HOWARD FENDRICH that bought a ticket today match in men’s doubles as meanwhile, observed that During the match, Kyrgios
AP Tennis Writer probably had a great day,” he returned to the tourna- he was “too old for all this earned a warning for un-
WIMBLEDON, England said Kyrgios, a 24-year-old ment for the first time in two stuff.” sportsmanlike conduct af-
(AP) — Rafael Nadal was Australian who is ranked years following two hip op- They could hardly be more ter calling Dumusois a “dis-
up near the Centre Court 43rd. erations. different, something Kyr- grace.” At his news con-
net when Nick Kyrgios “At times today, I was look- Marcos Baghdatis, the 2006 gios underlined after he lost ference, Kyrgios’ insults of
smacked a booming fore- ing around: This is Wimble- Australian Open runner-up despite producing a 58-44 choice were “horrendous”
hand directly at the guy’s don, playing Rafa. ... But and a fan favorite, played advantage in winners, in- and “terrible.”
midsection — right at him, I’ll probably wake up to- what he says will be the last cluding 29 aces — one a In the third set, there was
on purpose — and earned morrow (and) there will be match of his career. second serve at a tourna- that “dangerous” ball —
a lengthy staredown in re- something negative about Marin Cilic, the 2014 U.S. ment-high 143 mph and a Nadal’s word — he sent
turn. it, for sure.” Open champion and a pair that he hit with an un- toward the Spaniard, who
Kyrgios didn’t apologize, at Kyrgios is capable of being 2017 Wimbledon finalist, derarm motion. blocked it with his racket at
the time or at his news con- as entertaining and befud- lost, too. These two couldn’t even the last second.
ference — for that or for dling a player as there is None of that really mat- agree on whether Kyrgios is Perhaps startled, Nadal
berating the chair umpire and showed why through- tered, in the end. capable of winning major double-faulted on the next
or for spending time at a out this 3-hour-plus contest Everything was rendered championships. point. But he wound up
local pub the night before that overshadowed every- secondary to Nadal vs. Kyr- Nadal’s take? “With his tal- holding serve, then cel-
the match. thing else going on around gios. ent and with his serve, he ebrating like he’d won the
Rarely does Kyrgios offer re- the grass-court Grand Slam Part of that is because a can win a Grand Slam, of match, leaping and yelling
grets, for much of anything. tournament on Day 4. 19-year-old Kyrgios beat course.” and punching the air. When
Instead, he tends to double Defending champion An- then-No. 1 Nadal at the All And Kyrgios’ self-assess- he eventually did seal the
down. He is nothing if not gelique Kerber was upset England Club in 2014. ment? “I know what I’m victory, Nadal wagged a
fascinating. He is talented, by Lauren Davis, an Ameri- Part of that is because they capable of. finger and shouted and fist-
too. can who lost in qualifying traded barbs away from Just depends. I’m a great pumped some more.
And yet it was Nadal who but got into the main draw the court recently in a spat tennis player, but I don’t do Asked by a reporter why he
emerged from all of the when someone else with- that also involved Nadal’s the other stuff. didn’t say sorry at the time,
tumult Thursday at Wimble- drew. uncle, Toni. I’m not the most profes- Kyrgios replied: “I didn’t hit
don to beat Kyrgios 6-3, Seven-time champion Ser- In the leadup to this meet- sional guy. I won’t train day him.
3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-6 (3) in a sec- ena Williams needed a ing, Kyrgios joked that he in, day out. I won’t show up Hit his racket, no? Why
ond-round match boasting comeback to win in three didn’t think “me and Rafa every day. would I apologize? I won
plenty of dramatics, a dose sets against an 18-year-old could go down to the Dog So there’s a lot of things the point. ... I mean, the
of animosity and delightful qualifier. & Fox and have a beer to- I need to improve on to dude has got how many
play by both men. Williams’ partner for mixed gether,” referring to a near- get to that level that Rafa Slams, how much money in
“I’m always willing to go doubles, two-time Wimble- by bar where Kyrgios was brings. the bank account?
out there and try and put don singles winner Andy spotted Wednesday night. ... But, no, at the moment I I think he can take a ball to
on a show. I know people Murray, won his first-round The 33-year-old Nadal, don’t think I can contend the chest, bro.”q