Aussie young gun Nick Kyrgios has managed a feat that many well-seasoned tennis professionals have never managed, by defeating the legendary Roger Federer.
The 20-year-old Canberra local downed top-seed Federer in three sets at the Madrid Masters, 6-7 (2/7), 7-6 (7/5), 7-6 (14/12). He defended two match points in the third set to eventually take the match after two and a half hours on court.
Following the huge win Kyrgios called it “the greatest win over my career so far”.
“I didn’t really feel as if I was playing out there – it almost felt like I was watching…It was similar to that match at Wimbledon when I played Rafa. It’s a strange feeling. It hasn’t happened many times in my career… it’s happened twice now. It’s pretty exciting.”
Later, after the news had sunk in, Kyrgios took to Twitter calling Federer one of his “childhood heroes”.
Kyrgios’ infamous language made an appearance a number of times during the match as he was given a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct in the first set.
Federer said of the match, “I couldn’t return his first serve, I had a horrible performance on return of serve.”
“I’m disappointed with how I played on returns, and that cost me the match.”
Kyrgios will now move on to play American John Isner in the third round.
Blessed to play one of my childhood heroes in Roger Federer. Blessed to get the win tonight 7-6 6-7 7-6 (14-12).
— Nicholas Kyrgios (@NickKyrgios) May 6, 2015
