After numerous tantrums in the past, Nick Kyrgios tried to control his temper in the season behind us. The Aussie played well and finished the year just outside the top-20. He delivered his best tennis at Wimbledon and reached his first Major final, losing to Novak Djokovic in four sets.
However, there were some dark moments, and one of them came at Indian Wells. The ATP fined the Aussie for the incidents in his quarter-final clash against Rafael Nadal. The organization fined him $20,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after throwing his racquet toward a ball boy at the end of the match and $5,000 for an audible obscenity.
Kyrgios gave Nadal a run for his money in the desert, with the Spaniard prevailing 7-6, 5-7, 6-4 in two hours and 46 minutes.
Rafael Nadal defeated Nick Kyrgios in three sets in Indian Wells last year.
Rafa took only two points more than Nick and lost serve twice.
The Spaniard grabbed two breaks and prevailed in the crucial moments to advance into his 76th Masters 1000 semi-final and remain perfect in 2022. Kyrgios made a better start and earned a break in the encounter’s third game after Nadal’s double fault.
Nick fired an ace to open a 4-2 gap and cracked a forehand down the line winner in game eight to remain in front. Nadal earned his first break chance in the last moment at 4-5 and seized it after the rival’s loose forehand to level the score and extend the battle.
Losing ground after being so close, Nick lost the tie break 7-0 after a code violation and a point penalty. The Aussie kept his composure during the rest of the clash, serving well in set number two and keeping the pressure on the other side.
Rafa delivered five fine holds and looked good to introduce the second tie break at 5-6. Instead, Kyrgios broke him at 15 with a behind-the-back backhand volley winner, taking the set 7-5 and forcing a decider in just under two hours.
Nadal saved two break points in the final set’s second game to end his downfall and gain a necessary boost. Kyrgios survived the fifth game before hitting a costly double fault at 3-3 to hurt his chances and fall behind. Nadal held at love with a forehand winner in game eight for 5-3 and emerged at the top with a smash winner in game ten.
