Indian Wells: Nadal beat Kyrgios in three sets. In the semifinal there is Alcaraz

It took Rafa Nadal nearly three hours to beat a great Nick Kyrgios 7-6 5-7 6-4 and fly to the Indian Wells semi-finals. A match played at a very high level by both and decided by two drops in tension by the Australian: the first time when he served uselessly for the first set at 5-4 and the second time when he had his serve broken, with a double, do it, in the seventh game of the third set. For Rafa, on the other hand, the usual capital performance that brings the season series to 19 consecutive victories and zero defeats.

The match

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Two games held well by those in service, then in the third game Nadal goes down 0-30. The Spaniard hits and then puts out a forehand on leaving the serve. The fourth point is a long trade, closed by Kyrgios with a monstrous forehand acceleration. Two break points arrive immediately: the first is canceled by Rafa with a long straight that the Australian cannot control, but on the second Nadal commits the first double fault of the match which is worth the break and the 2-1 Kyrgios. Rafa can’t find the depth of the blows and defends himself badly in the response games. The first of Kyrgios goes fast and the Australian confirms the break by holding a complicated game with the advantages. Rafa returns to serve and commits another double fault: without first serve the Spaniard must necessarily raise the pace to shorten the distance. At 3-2 40-0 Kyrgios serves from underneath between the legs and Nadal shoots him, but he can’t prevent his opponent from reaching 4-2. Cold hand Nick holds up without major problems. At 4-3 40-0 he commits a double fault and then closes the game with another acceleration of the straight line.

The answer

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When Kygios goes to serve for the set at 5-4, Nadal wakes up and arrives for the first time in the match at the break point. The Australian is forced to replay a second and then misses a forehand. It is the first break lost by Kyrgios in the tournament which is worth 5 all to Nadal. Kyrgios throws the racket to the ground when Nadal, aided by the tape, wins a point with a frightening recovery at the net. And in the next point the audience goes crazy for another spectacular point. At the net Nadal takes 30 even and then with the ace that of 40-30 that sends Rafa forward for the first time on 6-5. The answer is not long in coming: under 15-30, the Australian puts in three points in a row and joins his rival at the tie-break. Rafa starts with the mini break, then Kyrgios serves and volley and is electrocuted by the Spaniard. The Australian goes out of his mind, talks to himself and meanwhile Rafa flies to 5-0. Straight slap that ends up in the stands and six set points for the Majorcan.

The penalty

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Kyrgios squabbles with the audience and Carlos Bernardes inflicts a penalty point on him for obscenities. In the second set the decline of the Australian is expected, who instead finds the calm at the beginning of the game. Kyrgios keeps his batting turns more easily than Nadal who on 2-3 saves himself from 30 all by pulling an ace out of the hat and then a winning forehand. At 5-6 Rafa opens the game with a double fault and Kyrgios still arrives two points from the set. Then the Spaniard takes the ribbon and for the Australian there are two set points. Rafa’s short ball, but Kyrgios recovers and places a winning veronica that is worth the third set. Rafa grits his teeth in the second game of the third set. On 3 equal Kyrgios gives in his nerves, commits a double fault on the break point, loses his service and starts to argue with the referee because some spectators distract him. Rafa now runs fast, climbs quickly 40-0 and then closes with a straight swing. In the last three games, Rafa’s partial is 12 to 3. For Rafa it is the eleventh semifinal in Indian Wells. In the semifinal Rafa now crosses Alcaraz who he beat in two sets – 6-4 6-3 -Cameron Norrie.