Nadal weathers Kyrgios storm to make Australian Open quarters

TIL Desk Sports/ World number one Rafael Nadal weathered a fierce storm from gutsy showman Nick Kyrgios Monday to set up an Australian Open quarter-final against Dominic Thiem and keep alive his quest for a 20th Grand Slam title.

The Spanish top seed came through a riveting clash on Rod Laver Arena 6-3, 3-6, 7-6 (8/6), 7-6 (7/4) to end the gallant hopes of the basketball-mad Australian, who came on court wearing an LA Lakers shirt in honour of Kobe Bryant.

He will now face fifth seed Thiem after the Austrian swept past Gael Monfils 6-2, 6-4, 6-4. “What can I say about Nick? When he is playing like today with this positive attitude he gives a lot of positive things to our sport,” said Nadal, the 2009 champion who is looking to match Roger Federer’s record 20 Slam crowns.

“He’s one of the highest talents we have on our tour and I like the Nick Kyrgios during the whole of this tournament.” “I just feel happy that I won one more match tonight, an important one,” he added.