Rafael Nadal secured his sixth singles title of 2017 – and 75th of his career – by beating Australian Nick Kyrgios 6-2, 6-1 in the China Open final. The world number one took control from the start and captured his second Beijing title in 92 minutes.
Rafa clinched his second break to take the first set, and despite a spirited response from Kyrgios who forced break points in the third game of the second, there was no stopping our champ.
After the match, Rafa said:
In 2005 when I won here I never thought that in 2017 I would still be playing tennis! I’m very happy to be here and to win the title.
For me this is a very important victory. It’s great to have a team like this behind me during a great season.
Our champ will go into Shanghai as the form player after dropping just two sets and saving two match points in the first round on his way to his second China Open title.
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Lintao Zhang/Getty Images
Rafael Nadal of Spain serves against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during the Men’s singles final match on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during the Men’s singles final match on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain returns a shot against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during the Men’s singles final match on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with his trophy after winning the Men’s singles final match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain poses with his trophy after winning the Men’s singles final match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winner’s trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain sign to the fans after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy poses for a picture after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy poses for a picture after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain poses for a picture with the winner’s trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy poses for a picture after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain poses for a picture with the winner’s trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain poses for a picture with the winner’s trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain hold the winners trophy poses for a picture after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Lintao Zhang/Getty Images AsiaPac)
Rafael Nadal of Spain poses for a picture with his team holding the winner’s trophy after winning the Men’s Singles final against Nick Kyrgios of Australia on day nine of the 2017 China Open at the China National Tennis Centre on October 8, 2017 in Beijing, China. (Oct. 7, 2017 – Source: Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images AsiaPac)
More to follow…
I am happy to the movement of rafa victory. Rafael will continue the performance in his tennis life. We are like to it and pray for you .
Good job done, best of luck in Shanghai and win another🏆!
We all are with you very “Happy” about The Tennis-Competitions Year and your six Victories. From The Canaries, most glad, C. Javier
Congratulations Rafa you have done soooooooooooooooo well
and can be so proud of yourself.
All the best for Shanghai
Love and prayers
AlaineXXSydneyXXAustraliaXX
Felicidades mi campeon eres indudablemente el mejor VAMOS RAFA
10 matches in 14 days more demanding. hope he will be ultrafresh for wtf..
Vamos Rafa, GOAT!
Yay, Rafa done did us all proud.
From almost losing in the first round, to winning the title. Super incredible! Makes me wonder what he could have done at AO 2016 if he hadn’t lost to Verdasco in R1.
Coulda woulda shoulda.
But today, Rafa played a beautiful match. Kyrgios lost his head, but that’s his problem.
On to Shanghai! Congratulations Rafa!
Well don Rafa anather title vamossssssssssssss Champ .🎾🎾🎾👍👍👍🇺🇸❤️🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆🏆❤️
Congratulations to Rafa, his team, and all us fans! Like all of you here, i’m so happy and proud! Another great week of tennis from Rafa. Is it possible that after climbing all the Heights in more than a decade, he is still getting better and better? By the way, Rafa returned from way behind the baseline today. It worked out magnificently!!
The way he played yesterday against Dimitrov is I think as good as he can be on the indoor HC. Hitting very deep, and hitting without fear. Dimitrov faced a completely different player yesterday than he faced a year ago. I am celebrating all these wins, definitely. But at the same time I can’t stop and think that a lot of years have been wasted, accepting the status quo of 2014, 2015 and 2016 and waiting three full season before bringing in the new coach, who, as it we can clearly see now, has almost from the start brought strategy, confidence and silverware.
The Greatest!
Mohammad Ali still remains the greatest
He was marketed as the greatest, by himself. He actually lost quite some matches and would not stand a chance against the heavy weights of today. He was crowned the greatest after he ‘beat’ that ‘Big Bear Sonny Liston’. Who clearly was forced by the mob to throw the fight. Twice. Ali in fact was scared to death of Liston, when he met him outside of the ring once. At six feet and a quarter of an inch, Liston has a reach of 6ft7 and enormous fists. Ali was ‘made’ the greatest, not just by his own efforts.
Maria your comment was not needed. Rafa is the greatest (tennis player). One of the greatest athletes ever.
Jean your follow up is in bad taste too. Not needed. And wrong too. Ali only started losing after the government stole him his prime. Heavyweights today are a joke, boxing today is a joke compared to Alis era. Frazier, Foreman thats unheard competition. Ali was crowned greatest by the people, for more than his profession. He was a living superhero. He fought the government, sacrificed his prime for his beliefs, stood up for the poor, literally saved lives. A beautiful human being just like our Rafa.