A blockbuster matchup in the Indian Wells quarterfinals pits familiar foes Rafael Nadal and Nick Kyrgios against each other on Thursday. Cameron Norrie and Carlos Alcaraz are also aiming for a place in the final four.
(4) Rafael Nadal vs. (WC) Nick Kyrgios
Nadal and Kyrgios will be squaring off for the ninth time in their careers when they clash in the BNP Paribas Open quarterfinals on Thursday afternoon. The head-to-head series series stands at 5-3 in favor of Nadal following victories by almost identical scorelines at Wimbledon in 2019 and at the 2020 Australian Open. The Spaniard prevailed 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3) at the All-England Club and 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(6), 7-6(4) at Melbourne Park. They have split six previous encounters away from clay at three wins apiece and Kyrgios is 2-0 against Nadal on North American hard courts.
You know another strong effort from Kyrgios is forthcoming in this one. The 26-year-old is always motivated in this matchup, is playing great in Indian Wells (has not dropped a set while defeating Sebastian Baez, Federico Delbonis, and Casper Ruud), and he is well-rested after getting a fourth-round walkover from Jannik Sinner. The question is if Nadal can bring enough to the table to withstand another Kyrgios charge. At 100 percent, the 35-year-old is the best player on tour right now. He is 18-0 this season with three titles–including the Australian Open. Since requiring a major comeback against Sebastian Korda last weekend, Nadal has raised his level to beat Dan Evans and Reilly Opelka in straight sets. However, the world No. 4’s lingering foot issue is a concern. If he is fine physically, Nadal’s defense and ability to play his way into extended rallies with Kyrgios should keep him undefeated in 2022.
Pick: Nadal in 2
(19) Carlos Alcaraz vs. (12) Cameron Norrie
Whenever the time comes for Nadal to step away from the game, Alcaraz is the heir apparent. The 18-year-old Spaniard has been tipped as such for many years already, and now he is starting to live up to the hype. Obviously calling for him to be “the next Nadal” is outrageous, but becoming a multiple Grand Slam champion seems well within reach. Don’t be surprised if he is a Masters 1000 champion by the end of this fortnight. Alcaraz is on fire right now, with an 11-1 record in 2022 that is highlighted by a title in Rio de Janeiro. So far in Indian Wells the world No. 19 has disposed of Mackenzie McDonald, Roberto Bautista Agut, and Gael Monfils in easy straight sets. He dropped a grand total of two games to Bautista Agut and issued a breadstick to Monfils in their second set on Wednesday night.
Up next for Alcaraz on Thursday is Norrie, the defending champion. They previously faced each other at the 2021 U.S. Open and to say it did not go well for the left-handed Brit would be an understatement. He lost 6-4, 6-4, 6-3. Norrie is obviously confident at this particular tournament following his success last fall, but Alcaraz has only gotten better and better since their first meeting last summer so there is no reason to think Norrie can withstand the teenager’s firepower.
Pick: Alcaraz in 2
I cannot believe Rafa won this match! What a champion!
Vamos!
You said it! I am a wreck!
Rafa I love you so much!
❤️🎉🎊🎈
Vamos Rafa!!!
Thrilled that he won, pity the match was so tough and long. Never mind, at least Rafa won’t lose to NK this tournament!
Congrats to the Rafans here!!!
Rafa”s serves let him down but what I really loved about him today was his temperament!!!
Imagine I was just watching an interview with Badosa and she says whenever she is in a spot of bother she thinks of Rafa and asks herself what would he do? And so she stays focus like he does 😀! I was like, really? So many tennis players look up to Rafa for this very reason! I mean it’s amazing how composed Rafa remained throughout the match!!! It’s truly impressive and it does help me keep calm as well! This guy Rafa is just too awesome for words!!
Will someone tell me how in the hell he won?
From someone who has not (yet) seen the match, Rafa served it out – I believe at love!!
I had planned to wait 3 full hours before checking the score. I lasted 2 hours and 56 mins. It wasn’t quite enough, lol!
Rafa may not be playing his best but I think he may have the Big C. Confidence.
Ramara,
I absolutely agree with you! I was just thinking that myself! You can get into mindset where you think you can’t lose. That victory at the AO seems to have given Rafa a ton of confidence.
I recorded the match. Now I have to go back and watch the parts I was too nervous to watch!
Vamos Rafa!
😍
It was a tense match. I have to admit that I didn’t hold out too much hope from when Rafa was broken in the 1st set. Rafa is a calm problem solver. This will shut Nick up for a while.
Vamos!
You’re not talking now, you’re not talking now Kyrgios. Lol
If I am to rate Rafa’a 2022 game, to me the top 3 are:
1. Second serve
2. Backhand DOWN THE LINE
3. Backhand slice
I can clear improvememts in these shots.
VR,
But what about all the DF’s?
It is a concern but to be expected when you are taking way more risks and you have a wobbly foot. I am not worried. It is true his DFs do cause concern but let’s not forget how much dividend his bigger serve is paying. I am sure he’ll bring the DFs down too.
VR,
Thanks for your response. I guess the foot is a problem trying to push off on the serve. He is going for more on the serve.
Who am I to criticize when Rafa is winning like this?
When I saw the draw, the two people that I was concerned about were Opelka and Kyrgios. I’m glad Rafa has overcome them. I don’t expect him to have too much trouble with anyone else left in the draw.
Vamos!
Alcaraz is a HUGE champion in the making. He is incredible and I have no doubts he’ll scale great heights.
However, he needs to prove his worth by winning loads of matches and leaving a mark on M1000’s and slams.
Cam Norrie is a very tricky opponent. Let’s see how this goes.
What has Alcaraz done so far to warrant all the hype? The kind of hype that a young Nadal was denied, even though he had achieved far more at this stage, because they didn’t want to taint the pedestal that they’d put Federer on.
Alcaraz is good on hard court at a very young age. How good we don’t yet know but most of the NextGen and the NextNextGen is looking a bit disappointing just now so the commies are lusting for fresh meat.
If Alcaraz wins IW I may climb on his bandwagon, lol. He’s fun to watch, but as far as I’m concerned he totally lacks Rafa’s charisma.
😂🤣🤣🤣🤣😂 Nadline you make me laugh but u r so right!! That is exactly my sentiments!! And they starting harping on about the unattractiveness of Rafa”s game and how his career won’t last given his play style and how he’s only a clay courter and he’ll never win Winby, and when he did, oh he’ll never win a HC slam and when he did, oh he’ll never surpasses Roger”s GS records and all the rest of it!! Now I don’t hear anyone criticizing Alcaraz”s play style with all this physicality!!! I do believe that he has more variety in his game than Rafa at the same stage but still he has not recorded the same achievements!!! So like u Nadline, I’m not sure what all the hype is about!! However, I do hope he has a successful career, and yes he is exciting to watch! But for now, Rafa is still the top dog and Alcaraz has to wait a while before he can take Rafa”s place 😂. I hope Rafa beats him tonight!!
And I do agree too he lacks Rafa’s charisma or rather he lacks charisma of his own!!
Just watching the great Martina reviewing the match. She says Rafa’s foot is surely bothering him but man, she was HEAPING all sorts of praise on Rafa. It was pure admiration.
She said Rafa is the one of the best volleyers out there and he is so versatile that he can employ any game plan including S&V if he has to!.
I repeat after Martina: HOW does he find this level of motivation every single day! HOW?!
Imminent execution concentrates the mind, it’s said. But Rafa has never lacked for motivation/ambition. If you remember in his book, when he first injured his foot in 2004 he said it made him realize that an athlete’s life is short and can be cut shorter (from injury) at any time. Instead of despairing young Rafa realized he’d have to play every point as if it were his last. Because it just might be.
Talk about seeing a glass as half full rather than half empty. Silver lining indeed! Vamos!!
Way to go, Champ! Brilliant win after all! He just deserves all the love of the world! 😍🥰
Master mind at work! He just outsmarted Nick!
Beautiful match!
Vamos Rafa! 🍀🍀🍀
This is a moment where I wish I could just make time stop. It is so amazing to see what Rafa is doing! This is unreal!
I am just so happy that I am alive to see it! The love and admiration for Rafa from the commentators and the fans, is just beautiful to see!
After these two hurdles, I’m now worried about his next opponent, most probably it will be Alcaraz.
Rafa is playing with confidence now, so he’s calm and problem solving his way through his matches, when clearly he’s not playing that well here at IW.
I think Rafa sticks to his game plan of serving big on both his first and second serves, despite having many DFs (7 in this match). I feel that the game plan is to keep his opponents guessing, they may be expecting a weaker second serve perhaps and yet here come a solid big second serve. Despite the DFs, Rafa is winning a high percentage on his second serves and that may be one important factor why he’s able to win tough matches, like today.
Like what Rafa said during the on court interview, he has to make his opponent feel uncomfortable (with his varieties and serving I suppose). He’s able to do that to his opponents here so far, even when he’s not playing his best tennis.
Kyrgios almost topped a ballboy after the handshake.
https://twitter.com/villievang/status/1504631788416630784?s=20&t=L8U19lv03ty1vqaZxTZh4w
“Ten thousand people who want to watch tennis here and you are the only one screaming like crazy” 🎤
Bernardes setting a fan straight! Yeah, but this also applied to Kyrios!!!Lol!!
https://staticg.sportskeeda.com/editor/2022/03/2bbd8-16475885279561-1920.jpg