Rafael Nadal accused Nick Kyrgios of lacking respect "for the public, the opponent and himself" after a stormy defeat to the Australian firebrand at the Mexico Open. Kyrgios survived three match points to beat top-seeded Nadal 3-6, 7-6 (7-2), 7-6 (8-6) on Wednesday and reach the quarterfinals. However, 17-time major winner Nadal was furious with Kyrgios who at one stage complained of being sick, served underarm late in the match before cupping his ear to the boos of the crowd at the conclusion of the second round tie. "He is a player with huge talent and could be winning Grand Slams or fighting for the number one ranking," said Nadal. "But he lacks respect for the public, the opponent and for himself." Kyrgios, ranked 72 in the world, hit back at Nadal. "I'm different, Rafa's different. He can focus on what he needs to do. He doesn't know the journey I have been on, he doesn't know anything about me," said Kyrgios who famously stunned Nadal as a teenager at Wimbledon in 2014. "I am not going to listen at all. That's the way I play. The way he plays is very slow between points. I've got my game, he's got his game. People are different, that's the sport." Nadal, playing his first tournament since falling to Novak Djokovic in the Australian Open final, had three chances to close out Wednesday's match after taking a 6-3 lead in the third-set tiebreaker. Kyrgios saved the first with a leaping drop shot, and the second with a net-skimming volley. Nadal was just wide with a passing shot to make it 6-6, double-faulted to give Kyrgios a chance and sailed a backhand long to end the match after three hours and three minutes. Kyrgios screamed and dropped to the court in celebration — a conclusion that seemed unlikely when he complained to a trainer after the opening set that he was feeling ill but feared the fallout should he retire. Kyrgios steeled himself to continue, and distractions seemed forgotten as he became absorbed in the battle. Down 0-40 in the ninth game of the second set, Kyrgios saved four break points to keep the set on serve and raced to a 5-0 lead in the tiebreaker. Kyrgios, who received treatment on his lower back before the start of the third, was in trouble again in the sixth game, but fought off five break points to stay on terms and push it to the decisive tiebreaker. Kyrgios leveled his head-to-head record with Nadal at 3-3 and will play three-time Grand Slam champion Stan Wawrinka for a place in the semifinals. Switzerland's Wawrinka, seeded third, belted 32 winners in a 7-6 (7-5), 6-4 victory over American Steve Johnson. Women's top seed Sloane Stephens also bowed out Wednesday, stunned by Brazilian qualifier Beatriz Haddad Maia 6-3, 6-3. Haddad Maia's victory over the fourth-ranked American was her first over a top-10 player in seven opportunities. "It was just a tough match, obviously she played well," said Stephens, who is playing in Acapulco for the first time since winning the 2016 title. "A tough day. But I'm not too sad about it. "I'm just going to go back and work some more, practice some more and get ready for Indian Wells." Haddad Maia, 22, next faces China's Want Yafan, who was leading Monica Puig 4-1 when the Puerto Rican retired with an injury. Former world No. 1 Victoria Azarenka of Belarus sailed into the quarterfinals, downing Tatjana Maria 6-2, 6-1. Azarenka fired 20 winners to Maria's 10, and took full advantage of the German's 28 unforced errors. Del Potro's knee still an issue, to miss Indian Wells Juan Martin del Potro will not defend his BNP Paribas Open title in Indian Wells after doctors told him he needs more time to recover from a fractured right kneecap, the Argentine said on Wednesday. Del Potro returned to competition after a four-month absence at the Delray Beach Open last week but, with his knee heavily strapped, looked unable to move around freely and lost in the quarter-finals to American Mackenzie McDonald. He subsequently withdrew from this week's Acapulco Open. "I am truly disappointed that I will not be able to return ... to defend my title," Del Potro said of the Masters 1000 event that starts on March 7. "It is one of my favorite tournaments, and I have incredible memories from last year, but my doctors have advised me to rest. I hope to be back on court soon." The Argentine saved three championship points on the way to upsetting Roger Federer in last year's final. Osaka adds American Jenkins to team Naomi Osaka has added American Jermaine Jenkins to her support team, the world No. 1 said in Tokyo on Thursday. The Australian Open champion, who split with former coach Sascha Bajin earlier this month, made the announcement on social media but did not elaborate on Jenkins' exact role. "Had a great dinner with the team. Also taking this moment to thank Jermaine for joining us and coming on board," she wrote, alongside a photograph of herself with Jenkins and other members of her team. Jenkins, who was recently appointed as the United States Tennis Association women's national coach, was formerly the hitting partner of Venus Williams. Osaka split with Bajin after winning the Australian Open last month. The 21-year-old enjoyed a spectacular rise during the time they worked together, becoming the first Japanese player to win a grand slam when she beat Serena Williams in the US Open final in September. Small shoulder procedure To delay Sharapova return Maria Sharapova has undergone a small surgical procedure on her right shoulder and will miss next month's Miami Open in Florida, she said on Wednesday. Sharapova has not played since the St Petersburg Trophy four weeks ago when she withdrew before a second-round match. The 31-year-old former world number one has already said she would not play in the March 6-17 BNP Paribas Open at Indian Wells, California. The Miami Open starts on March 19. "I have struggled with shoulder pain since last summer," Sharapova wrote on her Instagram page. "For 10 weeks post US Open, I focused on getting my rotator cuff and scapula strong to support a surgically repaired fraying tendon and a small labrum tear. Although my shoulder got strong, it didn't help the pain on impact. "After a few different opinions in a few different countries, last week I had a small procedure done which will take a few weeks to heal." Sharapova, who beat defending Australian Open champion Caroline Wozniacki before losing in the fourth round at Melbourne Park in January, added that she was "incredibly committed" to returning to competition. — Agencies
