It’s difficult to play against him – Rafael Nadal on Nick Kyrgios

Tennis legend Rafael Nadal continued his dream run in the ongoing season as he defeated Nick Kyrgios by ​​7-6(0), 5-7, 6-4 in the quarterfinal of the ongoing Indian Wells. Kyrgios was able to break Nadal’s serve early in the opening set but the Spaniard was able to get back in the contest as he got his serve back.

The Australian was serving for the opening set at 5-4 but the left-hander was able to take the set to the tiebreaker. In fact, the Australian could not even win a single point in the tiebreaker as Nadal won by 7-0.

Kyrgios was able to take the second set by 7-5 to take the game to the third set. However, Nadal won the third set by 6-4 to continue his rich form. This was Nadal’s 19th win of the season as he continued his unbeaten run in the season.

“I think for moments I played well,” Nadal said post-match. “It’s difficult to play against him, always tough because he changes the dynamic of the point very quick and his serve is huge, especially the first serve.

“I think I played a good third set. Returning better. I was solid with the serve; I just suffered in one game with my serve. Nick is one of these kind of players that you’re going to have problems when he’s motivated.”

Nadal added that Tennis is all about momentum and he was able to turn the impetus after losing the second set.

“Tennis is all about the momentum sometimes,” Nadal said. “After the way that I finished the second with a couple of mistakes, I knew the beginning of the third will be so important and probably critical for me. So I needed to save the first couple of games, and then the match came back to normal and anything can happen.”

Nadal will next face countryman Carlos Alcaraz Garfia in the semifinal of the ongoing BNP Paribas Open.