Nick KYRGIOS (AUS) hits a backhand during Round 2 of the Australian Open on Rod Laver Arena at Melbourne Park in Melbourne on Thursday January 20, 2022. MANDATORY PHOTO CREDIT Mark Dadswell/TENNIS AUSTRALIA
Nick Kyrgios progressed to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells on Wednesday after Jannik Sinner withdrew from the tournament due to illness.
The Italian’s withdrawal was confirmed about an hour before the two were due to the take to the court and sets up Kyrgios for last eight clash with Rafa Nadal.
“He is playing great,” Nadal said of Kyrgios after his win over Reilly Opleka.
“He is one of the toughest opponents on tour.
“Everyone knows how good he is when he is motivated, so probably tomorrow he will be.
“It is going to be a good test for me and good challenge.
“I am excited to be in the quarter-finals, and in the quarter-finals you can’t expect an easy opponent.”
The only other Aussie left in the draw, Alex de Minaur, suffered a 3-6, 6-4, 7-6 (7-5) loss to American Taylor Fritz.
The deciding tiebreaker went with serve until the 12th point when Fritz forced a backhand error from de Minaur to seal three match.
In other matches unseeded Serbian Miomir Kecmanovic stunned Italian Matteo Berrettini 6-3, 6-7 (5-7), 6-4 and Bulgarian Grigor Dimitrov beat John Isner 6-3, 7-6 (8-6).
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