"I'm sure I'll play him again on a big stage" - Kyrgios awaits another Grand Slam meeting with Nadal
ATP
Nick Kyrgios was eager to face Rafael Nadal at the 2022 Wimbledon Championships, which is why he was disappointed after the Spaniard's withdrawal.
Kyrgios bested Nadal in 2014 at the All England Club to reach his first Grand Slam quarter-final. Eight years later, the two were supposed to meet again, this time in a semi-final match, but Nadal's withdrawal canceled it.
The two always produce a great show and there's no doubt that this year it would be no different. The Australian, who reached his maiden Grand Slam final after his opponent's withdrawal, also admitted that he couldn't wait to face the 22-time Grand Slam champion again after not being able to play him in the All England Club this year.
"It's obviously not the way I wanted to get to the final. As a competitor, I really did want that match. It was obviously something that as soon as I beat Garin, Rafa was a high possibility, someone I've had so many good battles with before."
"We've both taken a win against each other at this tournament. I really did want to see how the third chapter was going to go. Obviously you never want to see someone like that, so important to the sport, go down with an injury like that. He's just played so much tennis. He's had a gruelling season. I just hope he recovers. I'm sure I'll play him again on a big stage."
At the same time, Kyrgios was obviously happy to reach his maiden singles Grand Slam final. He will get a chance to play for the trophy against Novak Djokovic.
Read also
"But that said, it's exciting to say that I have a chance to play for a Grand Slam singles title after everything. It's pretty cool. I haven't spoken to Rafa. I found out last night [Thursday] at dinner, I got indicated that it was going to happen just before the press conference."
Although he advanced directly into the final without having to lift his racket in the semi-final match, the Australian player admitted that the first feeling that he had after learning the news was a disappointment.
"Honestly my first feeling was a bit of disappointment. My energy was so focused on playing him and tactically how I'm going to go out there and play, the emotions of walking out there, all that type of stuff."
"But it wouldn't have been easy for him to do that, withdraw. I'm sure that a lot of his team members and himself, there would be a part of him that wanted to play, for sure. He barely lost a match this year. He wanted to probably go for all four slams. So it wouldn't be easy."
