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Indian Wells: Nick Kyrgios stuns Novak Djokovic again, Roger Federer eases past Rafael Nadal
Nick Kyrgios (AUS) reacts at match point as he defeats Novak Djokovic in the BNP Paribas Open at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden- Reuters
Kyrgios sent down 14 aces, which included some second serves close to 120mph, won 85 per cent of points on his first serve and faced no break points.
Made in Australia ??@NickKyrgios ousts World No.2 Djokovic in straight sets!#BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/pnYzzIihGY
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 16, 2017
In the second big match of the day, Federer defeated Nadal 6-2, 6-3 in the 36th meeting between the pair to make it three in a row
Question marks were hanging over Federer’s glittering career when he missed the second half of last season due to injury problems, but the 35-year-old answered with a stunning comeback win in the Australian Open in January, where he beat Nadal in an epic final.
It’s a nice feeling to win the last three. I can tell you that,” Federer said in his post-match press conference.
But most importantly, I won Australia. That was big for me. On the comeback, I look back at that and think that was one of the coolest things I ever experienced in my career.
All the matches that we have played are unique in many ways for both of us, winning or losing. So I take it. For me, it was all about coming out and trying to play the way I did in Australia. I didn’t think it was going to be that possible, to be quite honest, because the court is more jumpy here so it’s hard to put the ball away. So getting in the lead was crucial, and then staying on the offence and pressing was the goal for me. It was a really good performance by me, I thought.”
Federer, who got the better of his Spanish rival in a thrilling five-setter at the Australian Open final in January, broke Nadal’s serve to open the match then survived a break point to hold with a backhand winner down the line for 2-0.
ICYMI: @RogerFederer dropped just 5️⃣ games as he swept past Nadal
Fed’s backhand = ??? #BNPPO17 pic.twitter.com/qrDXT1H91x
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) March 16, 2017
Nadal admitted he was off his game and knew Federer was the better player.
He said:
He returned well. But at the same time, it was obvious that I didn’t have the right answer for his returns. I needed to neutralise the points. I needed to neutralise his two first balls, and I didn’t.
So I was not enough good tonight and he deserved the victory, for sure. Very easy.”
In other matches, Japan’s Kei Nishikori beat Donald Young 6-2 6-4 and advances to play 17th-seed Jack Sock, who defeated Malek Jaziri in three sets, while Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas upset 11th-seed David Goffin 6-3 3-6 6-3.
