Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic team up for Australia as they take on the world’s Kei Nishikori and Rafael Nadal in a Fast4 Showdown. Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEDT) for live coverage.
Australia’s team will be led by bad boys Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic, the pair aiming for a big 2017 campaign.
Kyrgios got off to a brilliant start at last week’s Hopman Cup with a win over Spain’s Feliciano Lopez, 6-3, 6-4 highlighting his strong service game before he took down the Czech Republic’s Adam Pavlasek, 7-5, 6-4.
After an unbeaten start to the new year, Kyrgios experienced his first loss of 2017 after a knee injury hampered him in his 2-6, 2-6 loss to the USA’s Jack Sock.
Despite injury concerns, Kyrgios has assured his availability for what will be a big night as he presses his claims against some of the world’s best.
World No.26 Bernard Tomic will be wanting to forget his first match of 2017 where he lost to David Ferrer in straight sets, 6-3, 7-5.
Tomic struggled against the Spaniard, failing to get back into tennis after three months on the sidelines.
The Fast4 Showdown will be a huge test for the Queenslander who has not played against a top-ten player since meeting with then world No.2 Andy Murray in Cincinnati back in August 2016.
Rafael Nadal has had a good last couple of weeks after claiming the Mubadala World Tennis Championships at the end of 2016, knocking off Milos Raonic in the final 7-6, 6-3.
Nadal kicked off 2017 at the Brisbane International, making his way through to the quarter-finals following wins over Alexandr Dolgopolov (6-3, 6-3) and Mischa Zverev (6-1, 6-1).
After taking the first set in the quarter-final against Milos Raonic, Nadal struggled to close out against the Canadian’s big serve, eventually going down 4-6, 6-3, 6-4.
His partner Kei Nishikori has had a great start to 2017, reaching the final of the Brisbane International before losing out to Grigor Dimitrov 2-6, 6-2, 3-6.
The world No.5 kicked off his campaign against qualifier Jared Donaldson, fending off the American after losing the first set 4-6, 6-4, 6-3.
Nishikori then endured two tough matches, holding off Aussie Jordan Thompson 6-1, 6-1 and world No.4 Stan Wawrinka 7-6, 6-3.
Nadal and Nishikori will go into the match as clear favourites, however Kyrgios and Tomic will have plenty to play for as they look ahead to a big summer.
Prediction
Rafael Nadal and Kei Nishikori will star in what will be a tight tussle and an entertaining night of tennis.
Join The Roar from 7:30pm (AEDT) for live coverage and be sure to drop a comment in the box below.
Match 1 – Nick Kyrgios (Aus) vs Rafael Nadal (World)
Kyrgios took four sets, but he got the better of Nadal in a strong performance, taking the final set in a tie-breaker.
Nick Kyrgios 4 2 4 4
Rafael Nadal 3 4 3 3
Match 2 – Bernard Tomic (Aus) vs Dominic Thiem (World)
It took a five-point tie-breaker, but Bernard Tomic has won the second match of the Fast 4 showdown against Dominic Thiem, handing Australia an unassailable lead.
Bernard Tomic 3 4 4 3 [5]
Dominic Thiem 4 2 3 4 [3]
Match 3 (Doubles) – Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic vs Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem (world)
With Australia winning 2-0, the doubles were not needed and therefore not played.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Pleasure Scotty, some very entertaining tennis. Good to see that Kyrgios and Tomic are in top form ahead of the Aussie, let's hope they can go deep into the first slam of the year.
Scott Pryde
Expert
Fantastic night of tennis - and our Aussies look in some fantastic form. Cheers for the rather long call Riley!
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
That concludes The Roar’s coverage of the Fast4 Showdown between Australia and the World. What a night for Australian tennis as Nick Kyrgios and Bernard Tomic earn wins over top 10 players Rafael Nadal and Dominic Thiem, in what has been an exciting and innovative night of tennis. Thanks for following along.
Riley Pettigrew
Roar Guru
Well that's all she wrote. Nick Kyrgios has defeated Rafael Nadal in four sets 4-3, 2-4, 4-3, 4-3. Bernard Tomic has defeated Dominic Thiem in a tie breaker 3-4, 4-2, 4-3, 3-4, 5-3.
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Roar Guru
FINAL Bernard Tomic wins the tie breaker to give Australia the win over Team World. Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 [5] Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4 [3]
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Roar Guru
MATCH POINT Thiem overplays his forehand, Tomic takes the tie breaker. Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 [5] Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4 [3]
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Roar Guru
MATCH POINT Thiem on serve, he fires a massive forehand winner Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 4 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4 3
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TIE BREAK Tomic sets up match point with the ace Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 4 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4 2
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TIE BREAK Tomic on serve, challenges the serve unsuccessfully. He hits the forehand winner Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 3 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4 2
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TIE BREAK Thiem opens up with the driving forehand winner, we are all locked up Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 2 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4 2
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TIE BREAK Thiem with the ace after scraping the net Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 2 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4 1
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TIE BREAK Thiem overplays the backhand, good start to the tie break for Tomic Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 2 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4 0
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TIE BREAK Tomic on serve, he hits the forehand winner Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 1 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4 0
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END FOURTH SET Thiem takes the fourth set 4-3 to send the match to a tiebreak. Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4
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SET POINT Tomic double faults, Thiem takes the fourth set. Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 4
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Roar Guru
Tomic on serve, Thiem with the forehand lob bouncing inside the box Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 3 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 3 4
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Thiem with the forehand winner, levels scores Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 3 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 3 3
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Thiem on serve, ace Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 3 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 3 2
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Thiem hits the forehand volley winner at the net Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 3 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 3 1
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Thiem hits the ace Bernard Tomic (AUS) 3 4 4 3 3 Dominic Thiem (World) 4 2 3 3 0