What do you get if you put some grass clippings and two feral cats in a bag? At Wimbledon, Rafael Nadal will face Nick Kyrgios.
During his play, Nadal was obviously in discomfort and might have to leave the competition. But let’s hope he perseveres just for the sake of soap opera drama
Even so, it’s difficult to imagine him declining to face Kyrgios in the semi-final on Friday at 10.30 p.m. (AEST). If it occurs, the sarcastic couple’s semifinal has all the makings of a classic, much like the first “Halloween” or “House of 1,000 Corpses.”
We’ll use eye protection. There will be no shirkers. The All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club’s beautifully maintained turf will become stained with blood.
See, Rafa and Nick have a feud (or, as Rafa would say, a beef) that dates back so far that its causes are unknown, much like the long-standing animosity between the Montagues and Capulets in William Shakespeare.
The first blow, though, most likely occurred in 2014, when Kyrgios, who was then ranked 144 in the world, became famous at the age of 19 by defeating Nadal, who was ranked No. 1, on Wimbledon’s illustrious Centre Court. Unsettling, indeed, but hardly poisonous.
Their meeting’s timing couldn’t be more exciting. For Kyrgios, the time is now or never.
He has recently gained momentum, which is becoming increasingly uncommon for the erratic 27-year-old, after taking home the doubles crown at the Australian Open and having a fantastic grass-court season. On his preferred surface, this will be his first-ever grand slam semifinal.
