From one blockbuster to another….
Rafael Nadal battled past rival Nick Kyrgios in the quarterfinals of the BNP Paribas Open on Thursday afternoon and his reward is a semifinal showdown against fellow Spaniard Carlos Alacaraz.
It was a typical Nadal-Kyrgios contest–not to the extent that it had any animosity, but in that it was both competitive and high quality while featuring wild swings in Kyrgios’ game and mentality. At times he was inspired and brilliant, but in the pressure moments he combusted.
It was a typical Nadal win, too. The 35-year-old Spaniard has by no means been at his best in Indian Wells, but he has advanced by being mentally tougher than the opposition. That was especially the case in his opening match against Sebastian Korda, who led by a double-break a 5-2 in the third set. But the 21-year-old American could not close it out and Nadal stormed back for a 6-2, 1-6, 7-6(3) victory. Against Kyrgios, Nadal stole the first set after breaking back with the Aussie serving at 5-4. The 21-time Grand Slam champion eventually saved two break points at 0-1 in the third to stay on level terms and went on to seize the crucial break at 3-3.
“It was a good tennis match, I think,” said Nadal, who has won 19 matches in a row to begin the season. “I’m happy to win, of course. Being in the semifinals is great news for me again. Yeah, (I’m) happy about that third set because it wasn’t easy after the end of the second. But I [held it together] emotionally and mentally.”
As usual, Kyrgios did not. Although the 26-year-old didn’t have any complete meltdowns, he lost the opening set on a point penalty at 0-6 in the tiebreaker after incurring a second code violation for an audible obscenity. He donated the third-set break to Nadal with a double-fault at 30-40.
“That [loss] hit pretty hard,” Kyrgios admitted. “I felt like, honestly, I was the one to end the streak. I felt like I was playing well. I felt like I did everything right in the first set that I planned to do. I sat down with my coach, myself, and I had a game-plan, and everything was working. Two points away from the first set, I don’t know how he got out of that game…. 5-4, 30-15 — just kept replaying that point over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over again.
“He’s too good, I guess. He played a few points well and he got out of it and that’s what he does. That’s what makes him great.”
Nadal will have to be great again on Saturday, because next up for him is one of the other hottest players on tour. Alcaraz improved to 12-1 this season with a 6-4, 6-3 victory over defending champion Cameron Norrie.
Saturday will mark their second meeting. Nadal dominated the first one 6-1, 6-2 at the 2021 Madrid Masters.
nice one, Rafa
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.sportskeeda.com/amp/tennis/news-i-felt-like-honestly-i-one-end-streak-nick-kyrgios-rafael-nadal-s-18-match-unbeaten-run
Kyrgios’s presser is interesting. I am not going to judge his oncourt conduct right now. Let’s just say that his negative emotions and his outbursts do not seem to help him winning tight matches. John McEnroe for example often managed to come up with brilliant tennis after some of his legendary bad behavior. Therefore he had no incentives to change his bad boy behavior since it helped him winning. Not so Kyrgios. It’s great that he seems to have rediscovered his passion for the game and his desire to actually win difficult and important matches. But he is still not quite where he wants to be. He needs to channel his desire to win and use it as a positive energy at clutch moments. Unlike Rafa he still cannot do this – and he pretty much acknowledged in his presser that this is the big difference between him and the reigning GOAT.
Kyrgios also pointed out that because of Rafa’s winning streak he has become even more of a target than ever! While defeating Rafa has been a great honour for many years now, his current winning streak has painted an even greater X on his back. Everybody wants to be the one, who can claim to have ended that darn streak 😉 Kyrgios knew that, if he had won, he would have been remembered for being the one who finally shot Rafa down. But Rafa seems to be a bit of a perpetuum mobile right now. The streak may have created it’s own momentum, which makes it even harder to snap it. We know that a perpetuum mobile is physically impossible, and Rafa will lose again. And there have been far more impressive streaks. In 2011 Djokovic had a legendary streak of more than 40 won matches until Federer managed to beat him in the FO semis. And Rafa himself had streaks which lasted much longer than 19 matches. But this was on clay and not on hardcourt – and he was younger then and healthy. The current streak is so impressive because Rafa is almost 36 years old, his body is riddled with injuries and it happens on hardcourt! But if he really manages to leave IW with the trophy in his suitcase, his streak could become truly legendary since he wisely decided not to play in Miami and the claycourt season is up next. Bur he still needs to take care of Alcaraz, and if he manages to do this, he probably will have to play Rublev in the final. Both guys have played great so far, and they have ongoing streaks of their own. Even after the early exits of the top seeds and Djokovic missing in action, IW proved to be difficult terrain.
I think, though, it’s pretty disingenious from Kyrgios of all people to criticize Bernardes for not controlling some raucous spectators! At the AO Kyrgious himself whipped the crowds into a frenzy during his doubles matches! Some of his opponents felt disturbed and intimidated, and this might well have helped the unseeded Australian duo to win the title. But Kyrgious seems to be thin skinned and vulnerable if he is the target of some ill behaved spectators.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/amp/tennis/indian-wells-2022-3-things-carlos-alcaraz-needs-upset-rafael-nadal-semifinals?article-trending
Y r ppl always offering advice on ways to defeat Rafa?? If the kid were to play Novak or Roger they would just simply be projecting his loss already!! Sigh!!
That article is annoying. How about one with the three things Rafa has to do to beat Alcaraz?
In my humble opinion, I don’t think Alcaraz has got to the stage where he can play tactical tennis especially against the King of strategy. To me Alkaraz’s game seems to be to hit the ball as hard as he can to whereever he can just to get it within the lines. There is no way Alcaraz is going to decide to play to anyone’s bh or fh because right now he is just a ball basher. He was almost broken 3 times in the 1st set against Norrie yesterday and Norrie wasn’t even at his best.
With Rafa’s extensive toolbox, unless he is physically impared I just don’t see what Alcaraz can bring to the table against him.
Well played Rafa, stayed cool, calm and focussed while Nick basically behaved like a dick.
OMG 🙁 Mark Petchy, the worst commentaor EVER!
Rafa is THE toughest player on tour, mentally and physically….certainly tougher than Nick when it counted. Alcaraz is ready to take on the King….he’ll win in 2.
I think that nadline10 said everything there is to say about Rafa vs Carlito. The latter is ready, indeed… most likely for another valuable lesson.
My thing is if was Novak or Roger there would be NO doubt!!! Bloody annoying!!! They r even projecting that Alcaraz will be a “threat” to Rafa at RG!! Even Rafa at 20 was not considered a threat to anybody even while he was beating Roger and Novak left right and center!! ALAS!!
So Rublev is into the semis!
You know who’s happy about the good press Alcaraz is getting? And happy to see him doing so well? Rafa, that’s who! Rafa’s secure in his own status and accomplishments and is very happy for Spanish tennis to have a new promising young gun. I know because he said so in his last presser.