Kyrgios Wins Another 5-Setter, Nadal Looming; Djokovic v Sinner QF
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Nick Kyrgios got back on Centre Court and he made the most his return going to distance to defeat American upstart Brandon Nakashima 4-6, 6-4, 7-6(2), 3-6, 6-2.
Now 6-0 in Wimbledon five set matches, Kyrgios fired 35 aces. The Australian was in a reserved, contained mode but complained early of shoulder pain, later requirement treatment and meds.
”I have played a lot of tennis in the past month and a half. I am proud of the way I steadied the ship after he came out firing in the fourth set,” Kyrgios said. “My five-set record is pretty good. That is what I was thinking about. I have played a lot of five-set matches here. That is what I was thinking about. I have been here before and I have done it again.
“Brandon hasn’t played on this court. All those experiences that I have had on this court got me over the line.”
Nakashima was the steadier at the start and in his first Centre Court appearance and first meeting with Kyrgios, went up up a set. Double faults got the better of Nakashima early in the second, leading to a Kyrgios break.
In the third, Kyrgios got up again as the meds kicked in. Closing in on the finish, Kyrgios let a game go and Nakashima was able to force a fifth. But the 20-year-old could handle the occasion early and Kyrgios coasted to his 11th win on the grass this season.
Up next will be Cristian Garin who came from two sets down for a fourth time in his career in a 2-6, 5-7, 7-6(3), 6-4, 7-6[10-6].
“Honestly, I don’t have any words right now,” said Garin. “I just gave everything I have. It was a very tough fight. It was a battle. I think Alex is an incredible player, for me one of the best on grass.
“I am exhausted. I just gave my best, and I think in the fifth set it was for him or for me. We both fought a lot… Nobody knows what happen in the tiebreak. I tried to be aggressive, went to the net, and tried to be aggressive with my serve as well. I think that was the key.”
De Minaur had break chances in the third and held two match points on Garin’s serve in the fifth but came up just short in 4 hours, 34 minutes.
Taylor Fritz cruised into his first Grand Slam quarterfinal crushing Australian qualifier Jason Kubler 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 in 2 hours.
“A first Grand Slam quarter-final, it’s a really big deal,” said Fritz on court. “To be a part of the final eight, and I’m glad I could get the win on the fourth of July, being an American. It’s great, being in my first quarterfinal, it just shows that all the hard work I’m putting in is paying off.”
“There’s not really any secrets, it’s just a lot of time and hard work that I’ve put in,” said Fritz. “I started to kind of find my game at the end of last year, and I’ve been building and working, doing the right things, and it’s good to see that it’s paying off.”
Fritz, who has won his last eight matches and hasn’t dropped a set yet at Wimbledon, will take on Rafael Nadal in a rematch of the Indian Wells final where Nadal was injured.
Nadal eased past Dutchman Botic Van De Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(6). Nadal led by a break 5-2 in the third before the Dutchman mounted a late charge. Nadal got it to a breaker and won it on his fourth match point after Van De Zandschulp push a smash wide.
“I continued in a positive way,” Nadal said. “I think, until the end [when] I played a bad game at 5-3, [it] had been a very positive match against a difficult opponent. Botic has been improving unbelievably in the last year, so huge congratulations to him this amazing improvement.
“In a personal way, after all the things that happened the last couple of months, to be able to be in the quarter-finals at Wimbledon after three years without playing here [since 2019], it’s amazing for me, so [I’m] very, very happy.”
Nadal is now 10 wins from the Calendar Slam.
Tomorrow, the quarterfinals begin with Novak Djokovic looking for his 26th straight win on grass against Jannik Sinner who is seeking his first win over the Serb and his first Grand Slam semifinal.
Later, British No. 1 Cameron Norrie takes on Belgian David Goffin.
TUESDAY WIMBLEDON SCHEDULE
CENTRE COURT – 1:30PM
1. Novak Djokovic v Jannik Sinner
2. Marie Bouzkova v Ons Jabeur
NO.1 COURT – 1:00PM
1. Tatjana Maria v Jule Niemeier
2. David Goffin v Cameron Norrie
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