2019 Wimbledon Championships – Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal Preview & Prediction
THE FACTS
Where is Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal taking place? All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, London
When is Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal on and what time does it start? Thursday 4th July, 2019 – (not before) TBC (UK)
What is the expected weather for Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal? Sunny spells with a temperature around 22c
What channel is Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal on? Matches will air on BBC1, BBC2 and BBC Red Button throughout the tournament
Where can I stream Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal? BBC iPlayer / BBC Sport website / BBC Sport app
Where can I get tickets for Nick Kyrgios vs Rafael Nadal?
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THE LOWDOWN
HEAD-TO-HEAD
All-time meetings: Nick Kyrgios 3-3 Rafael Nadal
Last meeting: Nick Kyrgios beat Rafael Nadal 3-6, 7-6, 7-6
NICK KYRGIOS
- Nick Kyrgios won a five-set thriller against fellow Aussie Jordan Thompson in by far the most entertaining match at Wimbledon this year.
- Kyrgios displayed all the hallmarks of his entertaining game against Thompson, sporadically playing out of his skin for almost impossible points and basically conceding the fourth set 6-0 before rallying to win the fifth 6-1.
- The 24-year-old will now face Rafael Nadal, whom he beat earlier this year at the Mexico Open before calling the Spaniard “super salty” in a press conference and starting a feud not yet resolved.
RAFAEL NADAL
- Rafael Nadal was barely on court before dismissing Japan’s Yuichi Sugita and progressing on to a mouth-watering second-round tie against Nick Kyrgios.
- The world number two was last knocked out of Wimbledon at the second round stage by Dustin Brown in 2015, and was knocked out at the round of 16 stage the year before by Kyrgios.
- The Spaniard shares a 3-3 record with Nick Kyrgios, nine years his junior, with Nadal typically taking both victories on clay but Kyrgios winning their previous Wimbledon tie and their most recent meeting.
THE PREDICTION
This is a truly fascinating match between two players who have actively expressed their dislike for each other. Nick Kyrgios, love him or loathe him, creates a buzz wherever he goes and his on-court antics coupled with Nadal’s intensity and tennis stardom could make this a Wimbledon classic. As for a winner, Nadal should be doubly hyped to progress from this clash with a desperation to win another Wimbledon as well as the desire to defeat a player who he claimed lacks respect. However, Kyrgios can turn it on when he wants to and his abilities against a 33-year-old Nadal on grass could well see him over the line in a shorter match. Fitness, rather than mentality for once, might be the key here. The longer this match takes, the more it will swing to Nadal’s favour, as the Australian clearly could not hold focus long enough in his match with Jordan Thompson and that could be his undoing here.
