Rafael Nadal beats angry Kyrgios to reach the Australian Open 2020 quarter-finals.
Spanish top seed Rafael Nadal battled past rival Nick Kyrgios at home soil in a thrilling four-set match to reach the Australian Open quarter-finals.
Nadal, 33, had not dropped a set this tournament before 23rd seed Kyrgios provided his biggest test so far during the Three hours & 39 minutes to reach the Record 12th time in Australian Open quarter-finals.
Kyrgios, who wore a Kobe Bryant basketball shirt in the warm-up, battled hard but Nadal came through 6-3 3-6 7-6 (8-6) 7-6 (7-4).
Nadal and Kyrgios have not always seen eye to eye with the rivalry blowing up last year after a tempestuous meeting in Acapulco.
Afterwards the 19-time Grand Slam champion accused Kyrgios of lacking respect before the Australian responded by calling him "super-salty".
Rafael Nadal quotes
"When Nick is playing like he did today with this positive attitude he brings a lot of things to our sport," said Nadal, who won his only Australian Open title in 2009.
"I encourage him to keep working like this because he is one of the biggest talents of our tour."
What next match of Rafa in Australian Open 2020.
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And despite a late fightback from the No23 seed, it was the 2009 champion Nadal who prevailed and will face Dominic Thiem in the last eight, quarter-finals.
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