Mexico Open: Nick Kyrgios defeats Stan Wawrinka in fiery quarter-final

Lucie Bertoldo

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Mexico Open: Nick Kyrgios defeats Stan Wawrinka in fiery quarter-final image

If the bloodbath between Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal was fiery, it was nothing compared to the Australian's grudge match against Stan Wawrinka.

Just 24 hours after his unforgettable comeback win over Nadal, Kyrgios went on to defeat the Swiss 7-5 6-7 (3-7) 6-4.

But the win wasn't without drama as the controversial Australian tussled with the passionate Acapulco fans, who jeered him right from the get go.

MORE: Nick Kyrgios fires back at Rafael Nadal's 'lacks respect' comments following upset Mexican Open result | Alex de Minaur suffers straight sets defeat to Alexander Zverev, bowing out of Mexican Open

The opening game saw the first stoppage of the match when Kyrgios grazed his knuckles on the back of his hand as he fell awkwardly during a rally.

The nasty cut forced the Australian to seek medical attention with the score locked at 40-all in his opening service game.

Despite his skin nearly ripping off his knuckles, Kyrgios was booed at and jeered by the Acapulco crowd as he walked over to the doctor.

“It’s f***ing insane,” Kyrgios said to his trainer.

“What is wrong with these f***ing people.

“There’s blood all over my hand, bro. What do you want me to do?

“It’s insanity, bro. You want me to play like this?”


Upon his return to the court, the 23-year-old won the game and held serve until the scores were levelled at 5-5.

With two set-points, Kyrgios seized the opportunity to take the first break of the match and won the first set 7-5 after 51 minutes.

Spurred on by the Mexican crowd, Wawrinka was first to take a break in the second to lead the set 5-4.

However, Kyrgios was quick to return with a hard winner to break back to level the set once again to 5-all.

Winning a service game apiece, Wawrinka sent the second set into a potential match deciding tiebreak. Although the Aussie took an early 2-0 break thanks to a long Wawrinka backhand, the Swiss fired back to win three straight points. 

After a few unforced errors by Kyrgios, Wawrinka went on to win the tiebreak with three set points.


With the pressure mounting in the third set, the pair - and the audience - were fired up from the get go.

While Kyrgios stretched his quadriceps during the fourth game, someone behind him booed him from the stands.

Unleashing an angry 'f*** you man' to the person in the audience, he received a warning from umpire Damian Steiner.

Nick Kyrgios

Letting a few points go while up 5-3, Kyrgios took a medical timeout as his movement was suddenly hampered. As the pair crossed paths on their way to the bench, Wawrinka checked in on the Australian as he received treatment on his left knee.

The Swiss went on to save two match points as the world No.72 pushed his service to a near match deciding tiebreak.

With the score locked at 5-4 with Kyrgios on serve, the 23-year-old sent down his seventh ace to cement the victory.


The triumph marks the sixth time that the archrivals have met on tour, with the pair's bad blood going back to 2015 when Kyrgios infamously told the Swiss that Thanasi Kokkinakis was 'banging his girlfiend'  during a Rogers Cup match in Montreal.

Kyrgios will go on to play the winner of John Isner and fellow Australian John Millman on Saturday, March 2.

Lucie Bertoldo