ATP Indian Wells: Rafael Nadal overcomes Nick Kyrgios (7-6, 5-7, 6-4) and qualifies for the semi-finals

He folded, but like so often and especially lately, Rafael Nadal didn’t break. During a game that kept the promises one would expect from such a poster, the Mallorcan successfully passed the Nick Kyrgios test on Thursday in the quarter-finals in Indian Wells. Clearly dominated by streaks, he never panicked, surfing on the confidence accumulated at the start of the season to raise his level of play and beat his Australian rival at the post in three sets (7-6, 5-7, 6-4 ) and almost three hours of battle (2h45 precisely). Still undefeated in 2022 with 19 victories on the clock now, he will face either his young and talented compatriot Carlos Alcaraz, or defending champion Cameron Norrie, for his 76th semi-final in Masters 1000.

Rafael Nadal is anxious, he never hid it. But if he was worried about the state of his left foot before this shock against Nick Kyrgios, he must now be reassured. He not only went the distance, but his level continued to increase during a match of very high quality. Not comfortable at the start of the game and heckled by the opposing firepower, the “Taurus of Manacor” gradually took its mark and resisted everything, like a third set where his calm and his blood -cold made the difference.

Too nervous, Kyrgios missed the boat in the first set

And yet Nick Kyrgios lived up to his reputation. The one that makes him a dangerous player for all the leaders of the little yellow ball, if he wants to give himself the means. And this regardless of his ranking and this 132nd place in the world unworthy of his talent. Motivated by the poster, on the heels of a very interesting start to the tournament which had seen him notably sharply dominate Casper Ruud (his first Top 10 in two years), the Australian made a great start. A break from the third game, missiles galore in the forehand and a constant variation in the zones and the speeds in the service allowed him to rain or shine in the first act. At least until 5-4 when he had to serve to take the lead.

If he had won this game, maybe Kyrgios would have been Rafael Nadal’s first executioner this year. But the Aussie, who nevertheless displays such great self-confidence, made his break at the worst possible moment with a gross forehand foul. The following ? A tie-break as smoothly led by the Majorcan as redacted by the whimsical Nick: a 7-0 concluded on a penalty point following a second “warning” (the first was due to a broken racket) for verbal obscenity by the Australian.

Aggressive and on the lookout, Nadal let the storm pass

On a thread, however, Kyrgios held on at the start of the second set, containing his frustration and focusing on his commitments. The game then turned into a duel of servers until the 132nd most dangerous player in the history of the game came out of the box at 6-5, to break in style with a high volley reverse. A set everywhere, ball in the center. And even Kyrgios advantage at the start of the final act, Nadal showing more and more flaws with no less than 7 double faults. But true to himself, the Majorcan turned his back, dismissing two entry break points. Before appearing at the first adverse drop in speed.

As joyful, explosive, inventive in sequences as nervous in crucial moments, Kyrgios ended up dropping the ramp at 3-3. Chaining the wrong choices, he gave in on a crippling double fault. A mistake he might not have made if he had played more matches of this intensity lately. It was enough for Nadal to lock the case. Sharp in his offensive choices, authoritarian in the service to finish on a white game and a smash, he considerably raised his tone. It was necessary to meet the challenge.