Champion Nick Kyrgios lifted the roof off the Australian Open, playing the absolute highest quality of tennis against World No.1 Rafael Nadal in the fourth round of the Australian Open.
You never wanted to blink incase you missed any action! The blockbuster clash between the two rivalries which lasted 3 hours and 37 minutes, ended with Nadal winning 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8-6), 7-6 (7-4).
Walking on court, Nick Kyrgios, a massive NBA fan, paid tribute to Kobe Bryant wearing his #8 Los Angeles Lakers jersey ahead of his fourth round Australian Open clash with Rafael Nadal.
The emotions also got the better of him, as he wiped away tears as he walked on court.
The death of Kobe Bryant, his daughter Gianna and the other passengers in a helicopter crash in Calabasas, a city in Los Angeles, shocked the entire world, especially the sports and entertainment community.
After warming up in the jersey, he changed into his mandated Nike kit.
It was an electric atmosphere inside Rod Laver Arena from the beginning. Nadal may have won the first set, but Kyrgios came fighting back to take out the second set. It was unbelievably thrilling.
During the third set, Kyrgios challenged a call which turned out to be correct, it was a fault. This led to Kyrgios having a few words to the linesperson and to the umpire, stating "it ruins the game. It ruins the whole flow of the game. It's not a game."
The third set went to a tiebreak. Everyone watching around the world, had to strap themselves in. During the tiebreak which Nadal won, Kyrgios let out his frustration and smashed a racket which he then threw into the crowd for a fan.
The fourth set, where to begin. Audiences watching live at Rod Laver Arena or through the television screen around the world, held their breath every time the ball was flying over the net. It went to another tiebreaker and after an almighty fight, Nadal triumphs.
This was tennis of the absolute highest quality.
*Image by Nick Bourdaniotis/Bourdo Photography (Copyright)
