Post thriller, grudge match on
MELBOURNE: Firebrand Nick Kyrgios scraped past Karen Khachanov on Saturday in five thrilling sets to set up a grudge match against top seed Rafael Nadal in the Australian Open fourth round.The Australian showman came through a tense battle with the Russian 16th seed after four hours 26 minutes in front of passionate home support on Melbourne Arena to win 6-2, 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (6/8), 6-7 (7/9), 7-6 (10/8).
“Mate, it was crazy, I don’t even know what to say right now, it was insane, I have no words for how I’m feeling right now,” said Kyrgios. “This is epic, man, I don’t even know what’s going on,” he added. “He’s (Khachanov) an absolute warrior.”
It sets up a mouthwatering clash with the world number one Nadal, who romped past fellow Spaniard Pablo Carreno Busta 6-1, 6-2, 6-4. Kyrgios, who was handed a 16-week suspended ban in September after a string of indiscretions, disparagingly labelled Nadal “super salty” last year, and mimicked his serving routine during the second round at Melbourne Park.
But Kyrgios tried to play down the feud with Nadal on Saturday, saying: “He has a winning record against me. Whatever happens between us, he’s an amazing player, he’s arguably the greatest of all time.”
Asked about 23rd seed Kyrgios after his match, Nadal was also diplomatic. “When he plays good tennis and he shows passion for this game, he is a positive player for our tour. When he’s doing the other stuff, of course I don’t like.”
Nadal and Wimbledon champion Simona Halep dodged an exodus of seeded players as the shocks kept rolling on Saturday.
SEEDS FALL
After Serena Williams and titleholder Naomi Osaka fell by the wayside on Friday, second seed Karolina Pliskova crashed out on a day of carnage in the women’s draw. Switzerland’s Belinda Bencic, the sixth seed, won only one game against Estonia’s Anett Kontaveit, the world number 31, as she bombed 6-0, 6-1.
And a resurgent Garbine Muguruza, a two-time Majorwinner,
thrashed fifth seed Elina Svitolina 6-1, 6-2 as six of the top 10 women’s seeds exited in round three. Tenth seed Madison Keys lost to Maria Sakkari on Friday.
Croatian 19th seed Donna Vekic also crumbled to lowerranked opposition when she lost 7-5, 6-3 to Poland’s Iga Swiatek, who is returning from a stress fracture in her foot.
Halep put away Kazakhstan’s Yulia Putintseva 6-1, 6-4 to reach the last 16, where she will play Belgium’s Elise Mertens, who won in three sets against CiCi Bellis—ending the American’s Grand Slam return from longterm injury.
Halep, the reigning Wimbledon champion, shrugged off the departure of some of the tournament favourites, saying defeats can happen to anyone.
Angelique Kerber, the 2016 champion, beat Camila Giorgi 6-2, 6-7 (4/7), 6-3 to set up a meeting with Russia’s 30th seed Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova, who knocked out Pliskova 7-6 (7/4), 7-6 (7/3).
In other results, Austrian fifth seed Dominic Thiem came through 6-2, 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-4 against Taylor Fritz, and Russia’s Rublev beat Goffin 2-6, 7-6 (7/3), 6-4, 7-6 (7/4).
Stanislas Wawrinka, the 2014 champion, progressed to the last 16 when John Isner retired in the second set. World number four Daniil Medvedev eased past Alexei Popyrin in straight sets to set up a last-16 clash with Wawrinka. The tall Russian had few problems dispatching the unseeded Australian 6-4, 6-3, 6-2 as he steps up his quest for a maiden Grand Slam crown.
BOPANNA-KICHENOK IN SECOND ROUND
India’s Rohan Bopanna and his Ukrainian partner Nadiia Kichenok moved into the mixed doubles second round beating Lyudmyla Kichenok of Ukraiune and Austin Krajicek from USA 7-5, 4-6, 10-6 in one hour, 15 minutes.