For the first time since Rafael himself beat Roger Federer in 2005, a teenager has beaten one of the top seeded players in a Grand Slam. To add a little salt to the wound, this teenager is a complete wildcard and was very close to not competing at Wimbledon at all.
Nick Kyrgios, a 19-year-old wild-card entrant from Australia, joined Nadal by beating him in the Round of 16 at Wimbledon.
All limbs and panache, Kyrgios battered Nadal with big serves, boundless reach and boyish enthusiasm. Ranked 144th in the world, but rising fast, Kyrgios looked immune to the pressure. Rather than succumb to Nadal’s stonewall defense, as most opponents eventually do, he relentlessly attacked it, building strength and confidence on the way to a 7-6 (5), 5-7, 7-6 (5), 6-3 victory.
This is not the first time a big-serving, low-seeded player has made Nadal seem less than comfortable – is the pressure of prestige getting to the champion? When asked for comment Nadal said only that it is easy when you enter, nothing to prove and nothing to loose. This certainly sounds like someone who is not coping well with the pressure.
Kyrigios will advance to the quarterfinals, scheduled for today. Keep an eye on this teen – he looks to be an exciting to addition to the pool of tennis talent.
For more details on the fixtures and face-offs, as well as the nitty gritty of how Nadal was defeated, check out The New York Times.
