A potential match-up with Rafael Nadal awaits Nick Kyrgios after the Australian advanced to the quarter-finals at Indian Wells following Italian Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal from the tournament due to illness.
The news of Sinner’s withdrawal was released just under an hour before the clash with the Australian, who will now have extra time to recuperate ahead of a quarter-final meeting with the winner of Nadal’s match with American Reilly Opelka.
The 132nd ranked Kyrgios has been on a tear after securing a wildcard entry into the tournament, scoring his first win over a top-10 opponent in more than three years when he defeated bitter rival world No.8 Casper Ruud in a sensational display.
His Australian Open doubles win has given a rejuvenated Kyrgios a spark in singles, after injuries and the pandemic restricted the Canberra-native to just 12 tournaments since 2020.
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“I know what I’m capable of. I think everyone does as well,” Kyrgios said after his win over Ruud.
“It’s whether I put my mind to it. I feel rejuvenated. I just feel like I’m here, I’m happy, and I’m just ready to give my all every match.
“I’ve played three pretty solid players who have been playing on a lot of confidence and I’ve won three matches in straight sets. Now there are 16 players left, playing at the top of their game.
“This is where you want to be, and I just want to keep moving forward, keep my head down and stay positive.”
Fellow Australian Alex de Minaur wasn’t so lucky, falling in a tough three set defeat to local hope Taylor Fritz, 6-3 4-6 6-7 (5-7).
Both players pushed themselves to the end but de Minaur couldn’t maintain his hot start after taking the first set 6-3 in 33 minutes. Fritz got back into the match off the back of a dominant serve, hitting 14 aces in the match compared to just two from de Minaur.
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