Nick Kyrgios has fired back at comments made by Rafael Nadal following the Australian's upset win at the Mexican Open.
In a seesawing encounter in Acapulco, Kyrgios managed to save three match points as he secured a get-out-of-jail victory in just over three hours.
The 3-6 7-6(2) 7-6(6) result marked Kyrgios' 16th career win over a top 10 player, and first in over a year.
Nadal started the stronger of the two, winning the first set. However, Kyrgios - who hit 21 aces and 58 winners - closed out the match in two tiebreaks to earn himself a quarter-final clash with Stan Wawrinka.
THE MATCH: Mexican magic: Kyrgios outlasts Nadal in Acapulco thriller
It was a match that had it all, with Kyrgios requiring a medical time out for his sore back. Both of his knees were also strapped.
Kyrgios also feigned retiring from the match, but continued when feeling perturbed by the expected media pile-on.
He had also been suffering from food poisoning in the lead-up to the match.
The 23-year-old bellowed and fell to the ground when Nadal sent Kyrgios' match point long, and after a quick handshake, the Australian held a finger to his ear as the Acapulco crowd jeered.
That winning feeling!
— Sporting News Australia (@sportingnewsau) February 28, 2019
Look at that passion from @NickKyrgios 👏pic.twitter.com/zf5DtnddwV#AMT2019
After the match, Kyrgios opened up to reporters, describing his tough run to finally putting together a string of solid results, having also waltzed past Italian veteran Andreas Seppi in straight sets.
"I've had a tough year so far. I’ve struggled with some injuries and I haven’t been playing well," Kyrgios told reporters after the match.
"I had a good match against Seppi yesterday and I knew that if I won the match, I would most likely play against Rafa.
"I love playing Rafa, he’s an unbelievable champion. I love going out there and playing big matches."
Nadal - playing in his first tournament since January's Australian Open - praised Kyrgios' talent.
However, the 17-time Grand Slam champion quickly smacked down the Aussie, saying he "lacked respect".
"He is a player who has a huge talent could be winning Grand Slams or fight the first position in the ranking... he lacks respect for the public, the rival and himself," Nadal said.
It's likely Nadal's comments stem from an incident during the final set tiebreak, when Kyrgios served at 4-6 down when Nadal wasn't ready. The Aussie would then remonstrate with the umpire.
Did it change the momentum of the match? Perhaps - Kyrgios would go on to win the next four points to seal victory.
Having been prompted by a reporter regarding Nadal's comments, an agitated Kyrgios defended himself.
"I'm different. Rafa is different. He can focus on what he needs to do," Kyrgios said.
"He doesn't know the journey I’ve been through, he doesn’t know me. So I'm not going to listen at all.
"That's the way I play. That's the way he plays, he's very slow between points and the rule of the book says you have to play at the speed of the server.
"Rafa has the speed every time. I'm not going to comment on him and his game. I have my game."
