Nadal climbs to the top, falls hard against Kyrgios

Cincinnati, August 19

Australia’s Nick Kyrgios humbled new world No. 1 Rafael Nadal 6-2 7-5, winning twice in one day to reach the Cincinnati Masters semifinals.

On a day when defending champion Karolina Pliskova won twice in one day for the third time this season to tighten her grip on the world No. 1 ranking, Kyrgios stole the show by overpowering the 15-time Grand Slam champion after each had won earlier.

The 22-year-old from Canberra was up a double break in 10 minutes, seizing the chance to make a between-the-legs showoff shot on his way to a 4-0 lead, drawing boos from the crowd.

Kyrgios, ranked 23rd, took the first set in 25 minutes, dropping only three points on his serve while taking seven of eight points off the 31-year-old Spaniard’s second serves. Nadal netted a forehand to surrender a break and a 3-2 lead to Kyrgios in the second set. The Aussie served for the match in the 10th game but double faulted on his third match point and Nadal had new life, screaming, “Come On.”      

But Kyrgios broke again to lead 6-5 and this time end matters with his 10th ace after 80 minutes, improving to 2-2 all-time against Nadal and booking a semifinal against Spain’s David Ferrer.

Bulgaria’s 11th-ranked Grigor Dimitrov plays American John Isner in the other semifinal.

Earlier, Kyrgios defeated Croatia’s Ivo Karlovic 4-6 7-6(6) 6-3 and Nadal downed compatriot Albert Ramos-Vinolas 7-6(1) 6-2.

Halep beats Konta

Pliskova, fighting to hold off Romania’s Simona Halep atop the rankings, first ousted Italian qualifier Camila Giorgi 6-3 4-6 6-0 in one of five matches postponed from Thursday due to rain. With only two hours between matches, the 25-year-old Czech defeated Denmark’s fifth-ranked Caroline Wozniacki 6-2 6-4 to book a semifinal against Wimbledon champ Garbine Muguruza. 

Second-ranked Halep eliminated British seventh seed Johanna Konta 6-4 7-6(1) to book a semifinal date with US wildcard Sloane Stephens. Halep must capture the crown to swipe the top spot in Monday’s rankings.

Support to Barcelona

Nadal was assured of moving into the top ranking on Monday for the first time since July 2014 when Roger Federer withdrew from Cincinnati with a back injury.

Nadal and Ramos-Vinolas wore black ribbons on their shirts in memory of victims of Thursday’s terror attack in Barcelona. “Everyone is very, very sad. I don’t have words to say, because when these kind of things happen, is difficult,” Nadal said. “All my support to Barcelona.”

Drawing on a camera lens after the final match, Kyrgios wrote “Barcelona” and drew a heart. Sixth-ranked Spaniard Muguruza, wearing a black ribbon on her visor, ousted Russian eighth seed Svetlana Kuznetsova 6-2 5-7 7-5. Ferrer upset Austria’s eighth-ranked Dominic Thiem 6-3 6-3, while Isner fired 25 aces in beating American wildcard Jared Donaldson 7-6(4) 7-5 and Dimitrov downed Japan’s Yuichi Sugita 6-2 6-1. — AFP

Sania, Bopanna out

Rohan Bopanna and his Croatian partner Ivan Dodig lost 6-1 6-7 10-7 to second seeds Lukasz Kubot and Marcelo Melo in the men’s doubles quarterfinals. Sania Mirza and Shuai Peng lost to Hsie Su-Wei and Moncia Niculescu 6-4 7-6 in the women’s doubles semifinals. — PTI