Nadal knocks out indomitable Kyrgios

Rafael Nadal attacks the ball, closes the match, reaches the semifinals of Indian Wells and snorts with relief.

Nick Kyrgios, the

of modern tennis, has disputed victory until the end, but there are already 19 this year.

That is, Spanish retains the full.

There is no one to face this campaign, whatever the circumstance.

The Balearic came from three tough tests in the previous seasons and with his left foot giving him warnings, and even so, with the splendid version of the Australian in front, he managed to impose stripes (7-6 (0), 5-7 and 6-4, after 2h 46m) and now awaits a rival for Saturday's crossing.

It will be Carlos Alcaraz or the British Cameron Norrie.

There are probably no two characters more antagonistic than Nadal and Kyrgios on the circuit.

One is dedication and good work, a model and exemplary athlete on and off the track, pure method and a tribute to self-improvement;

the other, to whom nature granted extraordinary physical and technical virtues, insists day in and day out, season after season, in discarding talent and ruining his career based on dispersion, detachment from his sport – the course In the past he played 15 games and in this one he totals five – and bad manners, of a recurrent contempt against professionalism.

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However, this time the Australian wanted to play.

Although he has softened the messages towards the Spaniard lately, he had before him a candy as tempting as becoming the man who put an end to Nadal's winning sequence this season.

For this reason, he began applied and focused like few times, incontestable with the service and opening gas in the rallies, taking the initiative and taking the helm of the duel.

The Mallorcan, meanwhile, was not quite comfortable.

In tow and with a cold gesture.

So far, no negative foot signs;

not noticeable, at least.

But he didn't flow.

After a very long hibernation – actually, permanent – ​​Kyrgios (26 years old, 132nd in the world) decided to compete and was thankful for the show.

Benefited by a double fault from Nadal, he scored the first

and served to win the first set, but he lost the thread minimally and his mind clicked.

The Spaniard, who only needs a little finger to keep clinging to the edge of the cliff, took advantage of the mistake and equalized in the tenth game.

He set the trap, and Kyrgios fell.

Racket to the ground, another shattered and a punch to the bucket on the bench.

The

traditional

The sounds of the stands

He reproached the judge, Carlos Bernardes, for the repeated sounds emitted from the stands and he exploded.

In the

he disconnected, and only came back to earth to unleash an outburst that cost him (due to another previous warning) the loss of the last point.

Generally, the situation would have been the anticipation that he would definitely leave the game, but this time he fought it.

He demanded Nadal from start to finish, always on his own and Manacor's always plugged in, although failing in some maneuvers that he does not usually fail and penalized by double faults (7) in some delicate moments.

Kyrgios crashes the racket against the cement.CLIVE BRUNSKILL (AFP)

A false step led to the break that Kyrgios conceded the second set, and in the end the pulse settled in an attractive tug-of-war in which both emotionally (logically and predictably) and strategically, Nadal (break for 4-3, checkmate and

in the rubric) was above.

Conditioned in the supports and some braking due to the injured foot, he overcame the discomfort and finally reduced the Australian with 30 winners (compared to 29), skill in the net (16 hits in 20 climbs) and another survival exercise to disembark for the eleventh time in the semifinals of the Californian tournament.

Without respite or peace in any of the four commitments he has played so far, the champion of 21 majors continues to challenge the numbers and himself.

From January 1 to today, there is no one who coughs.

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