Nadal falls to new sensation Kyrgios
Locker Room
July 1, 2014
Rafael Nadal crashed out of Wimbledon to a big-serving teenager last night.
Aussie sensation Nick Kyrgios served up nearly forty aces and the Spaniard just couldn’t cope with the firepower.
Fittingly, it was an ace which finished it – the first time since 1992 that a world number one had been defeated by a player from outside the top 100.
It took three hours for Kyrgios to win through 7-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3. But he never looked overwhelmed by the occasion.
Any time the underdog looked remotely vulnerable, that booming serve flew over at 130mph and gave the favourite no chance.
Krygios reflected: ‘I played some extraordinary tennis. I was struggling a little bt on return but then I got a break and I was serving at a really high level.
‘I didn’t know what to do when I won – sink to the ground, throw away my racquet…I did a dance but I didn’t even know what that was!
‘I couldn’t have done it without the Aussie fans. The mind is buzzing, I haven’t even thought about the next round yet.’
He faces Milos Raonic on Court Number One on Wednesday. But it will take a few more days for all of Wimbledon to take in what he has just achieved.
Murray, Federer and Djokovic might be relieved that Nadal is no longer – especially the defending champion.
But the bad news for the big boys is that Krygios looks even more dangerous. A nineteen-year-old who is simply unstoppable if his serve works according to plan.
Boy, did that serve sing on Tuesday. And it’s all over for Rafa.