The Nick Kyrgios-Rafael Nadal dream match at the 2020 Australian Open is one step closer to reality, and the anticipation is only increasing after the Australian’s latest jab at his rival.
During the second set of Kyrgios’ second-round win Thursday over Gilles Simon, the chair umpire warned Kyrgios, 24, for taking more than 25 seconds between serves. As Kyrgios responded, he mocked Nadal’s pre-serve routine by pretending to slick his hair behind each ear and pick his shorts out of his rear end. Kyrgios, who is currently in the middle of a six-month probation for abusive behavior toward officials, went on to win in four sets.
After Nadal, 33, defeated Federico Delbonis in straight sets, Nadal said of Kyrgios’ actions, “I really don’t care. I am here to play tennis. Honestly, I don’t care at all. If was funny, good. That’s it.”
It wasn’t all fun and games for Kyrgios. After dropping the third set, he snapped at his box for what he thought was poor support from his entourage, which included compatriot Lleyton Hewitt.
“So creative. So creative. So creative. Out of all the things you could say: ‘Stay tough.’ Thanks, man. Thanks,” Kyrgios told his box. “‘Stay tough.’ That’s what I get. Every break point: ‘Stay tough.’ Wow. Wow. Wow.”
Afterward, Kyrgios criticized himself over the outburst.
“I was being a bit of d–khead to them and I apologized as soon as I got back into the locker room,” he said.
The No. 23-seeded Kyrgios next faces No. 16 seed Karen Khachanov while the top-seeded Nadal gets No. 27 Pablo Carreno Busta. Should Kyrgios and Nadal win, they would face off in the fourth round.
— With AP
