"I'm sure I'll play him again on a big stage" - Kyrgios awaits another Grand Slam meeting with Nadal
It goes without saying that Nick Kyrgios was eager to face Rafael Nadal, who he defeated in 2014 at the All England Club to get to his first Grand Slam quarterfinal but their meeting was cancelled, or at least postponed.
Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal won't meet at the 2022 Wimbledon and that made a lot of tennis fans sad. 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 can'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."
“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 [Thur] at dinner, I got indicated that it was going to happen just before the press conference."
"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, you know, 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."
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