Beijing Flashback: Rafael Nadal destroys Nick Kyrgios, wins title

• Tennis News
• Rafael Nadal

Twelve years after doing that as a teenager, Rafael Nadal secured his second Beijing title in 2017. World no. 1 faced Nick Kyrgios in the title clash and produced a dominant 6-2, 6-1 victory in an hour and 32 minutes, lifting his 75th ATP title and the sixth of the season.

It was Nadal's first post-US Open triumph since Tokyo 2010! Rafa beat Nick on hard court for the first time, with the Aussie losing his focus completely following an error from the line judge in the encounter's first game.

Kyrgios failed to regain his composure, making too many mistakes and settling for a runner-up spot. Nadal defended all four break chances, keeping the pressure on the other side. The Spaniard grabbed four return games from 12 opportunities, rattling off nine games from 2-2 in the opening set and breaking the rival's resistance.

Nick served below 50%, struggling on the second serve and spraying over 30 mistakes, mostly from his backhand. Also, there were his usual tantrums and warnings from the chair umpire.

Rafael Nadal lost three games against Nick Kyrgios in Beijing 2017.

Kyrgios was off to an energetic start, earning a break chance in the encounter's first game with a deep return.

Nick's backhand crosscourt was called long, and they repeated the point. He sprayed a backhand error this time and never recovered his strokes in the rest of the duel! Kyrgios played against five break chances in the second game, denying four with winners and bringing the game home to avoid an early setback.

The Aussie landed a volley winner in the fourth game to defend another break point, leveling the score at 2-2 after over half an hour. That was all we saw from Nick in the opener, dropping 16 of the final 21 points and allowing Rafa to rattle off four games and wrap up the set.

Nadal grabbed a break at 15 in the sixth game, moving 4-2 up and cementing the lead with a service winner a few minutes later. Kyrgios hit a double fault in the eighth game, losing serve for the second straight time and handing the opener to Nadal 6-2.

Like the opener, there was a massive fight in the second set's opening four games, requiring over half an hour. Rafa saved two break points in the first game with winners and stole the rival's serve in the next one after Nick's loose forehand.

Nadal erased another break point in the third game after a 20-stroke exchange and delivered another break in the next one. Kyrgios wasted five game points and lost serve after Nadal's forehand return winner, falling 4-0 behind.

Rafa conquered his ninth straight game with a hold in game five, forcing Nick to serve to stay in the match. The Aussie avoided a bagel with a hold in game six before the Spaniard emerged at the top with a service winner at 5-1, celebrating his 75th ATP title.