Controversial Nick Kyrgios has admitted to using unsettling tactics during his fourth-round Wimbledon victory against USA talent Brandon Nakashima. Kyrgios reached the quarter final at the All England club for the first time since his 2014 debut run with a 4-6 6-4 7-6(2) 3-6 6-2 win over the 56th-ranked Brandon to set up a last eight meeting with Chile’s Cristian Garin.
Nick Kyrgios, an Australian, and Stefanos Tsitsipas, were both fined following their heated Wimbledon third-round encounter on Saturday. Kyrgios is probably the most fined player in this years Wimbledon.
Post match conference Kyrgios said “I’ve got ultimate respect for him” @NickKyrgios salutes @steftsitsipas after their duel on No.1 Court #Wimbledon
While Kyrgios who was fined $4000 has drawn criticism for his on-court conduct throughout his career, he has also displayed some of his greatest tennis at Wimbledon this year, most notably in the second round when he easily defeated Filip Krajinovic in just one hour and 25 minutes.
The Australian has been fined $14,000 so far this tournament, having been sanctioned for spitting in the direction of a spectator he said was disrespecting him during his first-round match against Britain’s Paul Jubb
World No. 5 Tsitsipas was handed a $10,000 fine
The joint-highest single fine of the competition thus far was imposed on World No. 5 Tsitsipas: a $10,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct. Tsitsipas later apologised for his behavior, hitting the ball to the stands.
The grand slam rulebook classifies smashing a ball into the stands as a distinct penalty, and he expressed regret for it after the match.
Nick Kyrgios sails into last eight at the Wimbledon
Kyrgios, who won the match in four sets and faces USA’s Brandon Nakashima in the fourth round on Monday, was fined $4,000 for an audible obscenity.
Kyrgios‘ performance was largely free of controversy but for his service game during the final game of the fourth set, with the world no.40 appearing to not try as he gift-wrapped the set to Nakashima.
Post-match, Kyrgios admitted to not trying during that particular game but explained the tactic was designed to throw Nakashima off – a theory you couldn’t argue with as the American struggled his way through the fifth set.
“At the end of the fourth, complete rope-a-dope tactic. I just threw away that service game,” Kyrgios said.
“I knew he was in a rhythm. He was starting to get on top of me. I kind of just wanted to throw him off a little bit. It worked.”
The Australian expressed his disappointment at not being able to play Alex de Minaur – who lost to Garin in five sets – in an all-Australian quarter final, but revealed he would be having a quiet drink after getting past Nakashima.
“I was really excited to play Demon, he’s been flying the Aussie flag for so long and I came on court when he was two sets to one up so I was expecting to play him,” he said.
“But I’m not even going to think about, I need a glass of wine, for sure.”
Meanwhile, Nadal will next face 11th-seeded Taylor Fritz, the only American man left in the draw
