The 2018 US Open is inching into its second week. The third round's picture is complete and the odds gifted us with some interesting matches. By far, the main event of this upcoming round seems to be that between Roger Federer and Nick Kyrgios.
In what can easily be considered as an old vs new confrontation, this past vs future clash has all the ingredients to produce some breathtaking Tennis.
Currently ranked 30th in the world, the 23-year-old Aussie player is into the third round of the US Open for the third time in his career. At the other end, Roger Federer, 37, aims higher as the 20-time Grand Slam winner bids for a record sixth US Open title and the first one in New York since 2008.
How Federer and Kyrgios got to this point of the event
The odds put Federer in the fourth quarter of the draw, the same with that of the unpredictable character Nick Kyrgios. They went through different kinds of battles en route to this phase of the tournament. While for Federer booking a slot came almost effortlessly, for Nick Kyrgios things were a bit trickier. He dropped two sets en route to this point, and he was at the center of a huge controversy in the previous round too.
In what can be described as a surreal and unique incident on a tennis court, Nick Kyrgios received what appeared to be a pep talk from the chair umpire of the match, Mohamed Lahyani.
According to ESPN, when the incident occurred, Kyrigos was down a set and 3-0 against Pierre Hugues Herbert of France.
Shortly after that episode, he started putting the pieces back together. Below you can watch the scene in its entirety.
Kyrgios won the second set after a pep talk from the chair umpire Mo Lahyani.
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) 30 august 2018
A USTA rep told me it is already looking into Lahyani's conduct in this match.
Absurd scenes. #USOpen pic.twitter.com/6qTMaoqPQd
Head to head stats and what the 2018 US Open means for both
According to the ATP official website, Roger Federer leads Nick Kyrgios by 2-1.
All their previous clashes have a few things in common: tie-breaks, drama, and on-the-edge-of-their-seats spectators.
This next encounter might get on a different route for the simple fact that it's their first meeting in a Grand Slam, therefore the first time they'll be playing a three-out-of-five match. Nick Kyrgios seeks to make it to the fourth round at the US Open for the first time in his career.
Aged 23, he's still expected to have a decisive breakthrough matching his level of skill and talent.
For Roger Federer, the 2018 US Open is the chance to save the image of the last few months. Some unconvincing performances seem to have carved out holes in his legendary aura. Moreover, he is on a collision course with Novak Djokovic in what might be yet another blockbuster.
Can Nick Kyrgios spoil this highly-anticipated Federer vs Djokovic match? Moreover, is he capable of doing something special at Flushing Meadows?
