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By Richard Pagliaro | Friday, August 18, 2017


Talk is cheap.

An explosive Nick Kyrgios backed up his bold words with a declarative performance dismissing top-seeded Rafael Nadal, 6-2, 7-5, to charge into his second Masters semifinal of the season in Cincinnati.

Watch: Nadal and Federer To Battle for No. 1 in New York

It was an 80-minute masterclass of often audacious shotmaking from Kyrgios, who blistered serves in excess of 135 mph, won 30 of 35 first-serve points, ravaged Nadal’s second serve winning 14 of 20 points played on the Spaniard’s second delivery and even pulled out his version of Roger Federer’s SABR as well as a mid-point tweener.




The only real mis-step came when Kyrgios failed to serve out the match at 5-4, but he immediately broke back at love then closed out his second win over Nadal in four career meetings.

Continuing his quest for his first Masters 1000 championship, Kyrgios will face 2014 finalist David Ferrer in tomorrow night's semifinals.

The 35-year-old Ferrer toppled third-seeded Dominic Thiem, 6-3, 6-3, earlier tonight.  

The 22-year-old Aussie often brings his best against the best players. Kyrgios powered past Novak Djokovic in back-to-back tournaments in Acapulco and Indian Wells earlier this season.

Prior to the match—the second of the day for both—Kyrgios told ESPN’s Pam Shriver: “I know what Rafa’s gonna bring and I’m ready for it.”

True to his word, Kyrgios came out firing. He won eight of the first nine points blistering his backhand to break in the opening game then thundering a series of 132 mph serves stamping a love hold for 2-0.

In his victory over Albert Ramos-Vinolas this afternoon, Nadal misfired on his forehand early and said he struggled to control the ball in windy conditions.

Tonight, the 10-time Roland Garros champion looked jittery at the outset spraying both his forehand and backhand at times trying to repel the Aussie's pace.

Kyrgios’ ability to unsettle Nadal and rush him in rallies was evident when the top seed bailed out of a baseline point with a drop shot attempt. Kyrgios ran it down easily and swatted a forehand winner breaking again with a flourish.




When the explosive Aussie erupted with a 141 mph ace it actually provoked an audible gasp from some in the crowd. Kyrgios breezed through 15 of the first 18 points building a 4-0 lead.

Oozing easy power and dotting all areas of the service box with varied spins, Kyrgios cruised through another love hold snatching a 5-1 lead after a mere 18 minutes.

Blitzing to set point after 24 minutes, Kyrgios cranked another big serve out wide capping a superb set in which he served 74 percent, won 16 of 19 service points and completely overwhelmed the 15-time Grand Slam champion.




After taking a bathroom break perhaps to try to clear his head and slow his steamrolling opponent, Nadal returned and held at 15 to start the second set.

Settling in on serve, Nadal rolled through a love hold for 2-1.

After dominating the first half hour, Kyrgios coughed up consecutive double faults to fall behind 15-30 in the fourth game.

An off-balance, inside-out forehand missed the mark as Kyrgios faced break point for the first time. Nadal covered a lot of ground running around his backhand, but his slinging forehand missed the sideline. A 134 mph ace followed by a another blast had a fired-up Kyrgios yelling in celebration leveling, 2-all.

Grunting more forcefully on his groundstrokes, Kyrgios coaxed forehand errors from an edgy Nadal, who played a sloppy service game as Kyrgios broke for 3-2.

The 23rd-ranked Aussie thumped his seventh ace down the middle backing up the break at the 51-minute mark.

A beautiful dipping running forehand pass gave Kyrgios double match point after an hour of play. Nadal denied the first with a big serve and erased the second with a 16-shot rally. Pumping his first and exhorting himself, Nadal ripped an ace to hold in the ninth game forcing his red-hot opponent to serve it out.

Serving for the semifinals, Kyrgios opened with an ace. At 30-all, Nadal drifted deep behind the baseline to return and drew a double fault to earn break point. Kyrgios answered with a scalding winner.

Nadal flicked back a return off a 143 mph serve, but Kyrgios curled a forehand down the line for his third match point. The man in red missed the box with his second double fault of the game then scattered a forehand long to confront a second break point.

This time Nadal made him pay hooking a forehand to force a wild forehand error and break back. A leaping Nadal hurled a huge fist pump energizing himself and the crowd.




All the hard work the 2013 champion did to get even dissipated as he botched three forehands, the final one landing into the middle of the net as Kyrgios broke back at love for 6-5.




A side-to-side rally ended with Kyrgios curling a forehand into the corner for his fourth match point.

This time, there was no denying him. Kyrgios crunched an ace out wide, erupted in a primal scream and belted a ball into the stands.


 

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