Kyrgios magic shocks Federer
POWER SHOW The Australian sends top-seeded Swiss packing in 2nd round
MADRID: Roger Federer became the latest big name to get sucked up by a whirlwind called Nick Kyrgios as the Australian tyro sent the Swiss top seed spinning out of the Madrid Masters in the second round on Wednesday.
Ten months after the then 144th- ranked Kyrgios overwhelmed Rafa Nadal in the Wimbledon fourth round with a fearless brand of tennis, the Australian showed that he is a force to be reckoned with on clay too.
Now ranked 35th on the back of contesting his first ever ATP final in Estoril last weekend, Kyrgios brought an abrupt end to Federer’s hopes of winning a fourth Madrid trophy with a heart-pumping 6-7(2)
7-6(5) 7-6(12) vic-
tory. STRANGE FEELING “I think he’s the greatest of all time... I knew before the match that I would have to play one of the greatest matches I have ever played, I wasn’t intimidated at all,” the remarkably composed 20- year- old said courtside following his victory in two hours 37 minutes. “It doesn’t really feel real at the moment. It’s a strange feeling... it’s pretty exciting.”
While Kyrgios was celebrating what he called “definitely the greatest win of my career”, Federer was condemned to his earliest exit in 11 visits to Madrid. However, it was good news for Nadal.
The Spaniard raced into the last eight when he brushed aside unseeded Italian Simone Bolelli 6-2 6-2 on Thursday to set up a quarter- final clash against Bulgarian 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov.
Chasing a third straight title at the clay Masters event in the Spanish capital, and a fifth overall, third seed Nadal needed little more than an hour to see off an outclassed Bolelli, saving both break points he faced on his serve.
The Majorcan has a good chance of claiming another Madrid crown as world No 1 Novak Djokovic pulled out to rest and Federer lost early.
After struggles with injury and illness, Rafael Nadal is attempting to rediscover his best form on his favoured surface before he makes a bid for a record-extending 10th French Open title. ON COURSE Top seed Serena Williams and defending champ Maria Sharapova remained on course for a heavyweight final showdown with contrasting victories in the last eight.
Williams swept past Carla Suarez Navarro of Spain 6-1 6-3.
Sharapova earlier had to recover from dropping the second set to beat Caroline Wozniacki 6-1 3-6 6-3.