Rafael Nadal is through to the third round of Wimbledon after earning a hard-fought win over Nick Kyrgios on Centre Court.
Two-time winner Rafa required three hours and three minutes to overcome his opponent, who battled back to level up at 1-1 but did not have enough to prevent the crowd favourite from progressing. With a 6-3, 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-6(3) win, our champ notched up his 50th victory at Wimbledon
After the match, Rafa told BBC:
I was aware of everything [Kyrgios’s complaints to the umpire], I was just next to him. I don’t want to comment on this. It is tough to see some things on court sometimes. It is so difficult to win tie-breaks against Nick, but I was serving well.
Rafa will now face Jo-Wilfried Tsonga on Saturday.
Rafael Nadal ahead of his match against Nick Kyrgios on day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal ahead of his match against Nick Kyrgios on day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
4th July 2019, The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, England, Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, Day 4; Rafael Nadal arrives for his game against Nick Kyrgios, Image: 454207161, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: Profimedia, Actionplus
4th July 2019, The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon, England, Wimbledon Tennis Tournament, Day 4; A detail view of the racket and ball with Rafael Nadal (ESP) as he prepares to serve to Nick Kyrgios (AUS) (photo by Shaun Brooks/Action Plus via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain serves in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain smiles in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain smiles in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain plays a forehand in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Nick Kyrgios (right) and Rafael Nadal are given their towels during their match on day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal during his match against Nick Kyrgios on day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain looks on in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal reacts during his match on day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: A detailed view of the shoes of Rafael Nadal of Spain in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal in action during his match on day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal reacts during his match on day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal reacts during his match on day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates after winning the third set in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Clive Brunskill/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory after his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory after his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain reacts in his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory after his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal (ESP) celebrates after winning his match against Nick Kyrgios (AUS) in their Gentleman’s Singles Second Round match during Day 4 of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 4, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Rob Newell – CameraSport via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates the victory after his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Shi Tang/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory after his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Rafael Nadal celebrates victory over Nick Kyrgios on day four of the Wimbledon Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by Adam Davy/PA Images via Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory after his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 04: Rafael Nadal of Spain celebrates victory as he walks off the court after his Men’s Singles second round match against Nick Kyrgios of Australia during Day four of The Championships – Wimbledon 2019 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 04, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Congrats Rafa – Soo glad you won. The only worthy winner of this match was you 👏🏻🥰 – Can’t stand the behaviour of N.K. 😤 Best og luck in the third round 🍀
VAMOS CHAMP! 🎾💪🏼😘
Love that release of emotion at the end, Rafael Nadal💪BJKing is absolutely right-so much wasted talent- Nick makes himself a🤡 Earn some respect like everyone else or just quit.
Rafael was fierce and focussed-congratulations-a satisfying day at the office🤛👏👍🙏🍀🥰👑
Congrats and love always
“Nick Kyrgios did just about everything against Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon, except win.”
[SOURCE: NY POST]
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
Woohoo congrats Rafa! And for kyrgios ” good riddance of the bad rubbish “”. Vamos 💪💪💪
So happy for Rafa!
I’m glad that Rafa has now shut the mouths of the naysayers, and those who keep talking up Kyrgios, as if Rafa is so hopeless against him. No more of that stupid 2014 Wimbledon match; we now have the updated match of 2019 for many to talk about.
Thank you Rafa, for showing them who’s the boss on the tennis court.
Well said Luckystar.
And to think we had to read Rafa was out of Wimbledon RIGHT HERE on his fan site.
I am SUPER thrilled that he won this particular match. Let this win propel him to the trophy as another fan said.
RAFA ROCKS
VAMOS TENNIS GENIUS!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):):) CONGRATULATIONS ON YPUR FEISTY SOLID PRECIOUS VICTORY!!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL ON ALL FRONTS AND NO ONE HAS YOUR DRIVE AND INNER BLESSED CLASSY ENERGY!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE A NATURAL STAR ON ALL SURFACES!!!!!!:) GOD BLESS YOU OUR DEAR GOAT!!!!!:) GRASS SHOW CASES YOUR BRILLIANT TENNIS STYLE AND THE WAY YOU MOVE IS GORGEOUS!!!!!:) CONGRATULATIONS AND ENJOY EVERYTHING!!!!!!!:) GO RAFA GO!!!!!!!!:) YOU ARE A TENNIS GIFT AND ENJOY YOUR GREAT STRIDING SWEETHEART AND A MASSIVE KUDOS TO YOUR MAGNIFICENT SPORTSMANSHIP!!!!!:) ENJOY EVERYTHING AND CELEBRATE WITH YOUR PRECIOUS TEAM!!!!!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU AND VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!:) WE LOVED EVERYTHING YOU DID……YOUR PRECIOUS EFFECTIVE SERVE…….YOUR SPEEDY COURT COMMAND…….YOUR BEAUTIFUL STRONG TIE BREAKS…….YOU ARE SO GREAT AT TIE BREAK …….GO RAFA GO!!!!!!:) WE LOVE YOU RAFA NADAL AND LOVE YOUR PRECIOUS WAYS:):(:):):):):):):):):):)#):):):):):):)
VAMOS SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!:) VERY HAPPY FOR YOU!!!!!!!!!:) KEEP SMILING SWEETHEART!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXO
Beautiful tennis from our boy today! Focused, confidant … he was all business…
I loved every second of it…. Relax and enjoy the moment!
More work to do tomorrow….
VAMOS RAFA!!!!
Congratulations Rafa you did so well and made us all proud. Onwards and upwards now Rafa, Vamos x
Great match – although I’m already nervous about the match with Jo! Nick can play so well when he wants to: it’s such a shame that he has to spoil it by being so rude to the umpire. Great performance by Rafa – very pleased 🙂 .
Watch a victory for Rafa and for all fans of Rafa – what a revenge.
That Rafa was able to stay focused with such an opponent is unbelievable.
Didn’t see all the match (too nervous), but from what Rafa said, I’ m wondering if it could have been a 3 set match?
He said he got distracted/lost concentration after he broke back to 4-3, in the second set, and then K had an argument with the umpire. Knowing K’ s dirty tricks, I wouldn’t be surprised if that argument was deliberate, just to make Rafa lose focus, and then the set.
I’ve seen many obnoxious players in the past, going back to Nastase, but none as bad as K for downright gamesmanship and underhand behaviour.
Didn’t do him any good in the end!
Thanks, Michelle. Yes I did mean 3 hrs (not 3 sets). I would hate for Rafa to have to play him for any longer, because NK would only have become more frustrated and nasty no doubt. And I agree that had Nadal not been distracted by N’s behavior the second set might have gone differently. A lot of people are laughing off his behavior, but he just isn’t normal. Even during the match he seemed preoccupied a lot, and you sometimes felt like nothing mattered to him and he couldn’t be bothered to try. He seriously needs psychological help in my opinion. People will keep laughing it off until something serious happens.
Thank you Rafa for my July 4th present. It’s all about you Rafa, anquishing any and all demons. YOU ARE THE MAN.
I know your team is mighty proud of you and will share your joy in this win.
RAFA ROCKS
CORRECTION: vanquishing NOT anquishing
NK is vanquished AND VANISHED, at least for this tournament. Vamos Rafa! You are a true champion and a legend. And an amazing human being.
LOL
This is the BEST 4th of July [for me].
RAFA ROCKS
Estupendo Bravo Rafa 😀 I was praying for you when I was out and about, going to the supermarché took my mind off It ☺ I kept an eye on the time . Came home, another prayer in front of your photo 😇 and then dared to turn on my tablet. Seé the score, the photos 😅 going to watch the highlights . On our French TV news they flashed on our Tsonga winning 😀 Federer 😐 and Américain Indépendance Day ☺ I often think aren t people lucky who don t support a particular player, just like to watch the matches 🎾☺ don t have to worry and get worked up 😡 like us and sometimes disappointed 😢 if our player falls. Fiona in Paris
Vamosssssss!!😊😊😊😊😊 Hard work and guts and love of the game of tennis all became your stengths today on the court!!! Soo glad for you!!!!!!
Vamos….Vamos…
So glad he won. Thoroughly deserved it. No worries against Tsonga. Our champ will take the win again. Watch out Federer and Djokovic.
Fantastico Rafa! Felicitaciones! Vamos por mas!!
YES, RAFA!!! Congrats. YOU DID WHAT OTHERS THOUGHT YOU MAY BE INCAPABLE.
TWO DOWN, FIVE TO GO
RAFAMAZING ROCKS
The Champ did it! No deja-vu tonight, no no!
Well done to Rafa and team. Fantastic serving from our champion Rafael Nadal!
Well done champ. The win means so much for you, we all have seen it. So happy for you and very proud <3
Enjoy the moment and take rest for your next match against Tsonga on saturday.
Vamos Rafa <3
Oleeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!… Bravooooooooo!!!!!!!. K GRANDE ERES.. SIEMPRE CONTIGO