ACAPULCO, Mexico,(MILLAT/APP/AFP) – Rafael Nadal
booked his semi-final spot at the Mexico Open by battling past Yoshihito Nishioka in straight sets, while top seed Novak Djokovic suffered another stunning exit in a shaky start to 2017.
The world No. 2 Djokovic crashed out of the ATP Tour event Thursday night after a 7-6 (11/9), 7-5 upset loss to sixth seeded Australian Nick Kyrgios in the first ever ATP Tour meeting between the two.
Djokovic, who was back in action this week for the first time since his shock second-round exit at the Australian Open in January, looked rusty in the one hour, 47 minute quarter-final match.
The 21-year-old Kyrgios overpowered the Serb with 25 aces, winning 81
percent of his first-serve points.
Djokovic fell in the Aussie Open to Uzbekistan’s Denis Istomin, then didn’t play again until this week. He managed only one win, against Slovakia’s Martin Klizan, before losing to Kyrgios, who will meet big-serving American Sam Querrey for a place in the final.