By Chris Oddo | Saturday, August 30, 2014

 

Nick Kyrgios started like a house on fire, but by the time Tommy Robredo cooled him off with a healthy does of veteran moxie.

Photo Source: AP

Nick Kyrgios walked out on court like he owned the place, but by the time Tommy Robredo had completed his 3-6, 6-3, 7-6(4), 6-3 deconstruction of the high-flying Aussie, Arthur Ashe Stadium clearly belonged to the Spaniard.

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Robredo rallied from a set and 3-0 down to take over the match with intelligent tactics, consistency and his trademark fight.

“When I was set and nearly 3-Love down, I was believing that I could turn it back,” Robredo said. “To believe that on a moment like this, I think it's experience.”

Robredo made a significant tactical change after falling behind. Feeling that his backhand could not handle the pace of Kyrgios’ groundstrokes, he elected to play more slice from that side.

Immediately he saw results. Kyrgios, losing patience and not equipped with the same stamina as Robredo, committed 35 errors in the final three sets against only eight for the Spaniard.

Still, Kyrgios had his chances, particularly late in the third set, to regain the edge. But Robredo’s wall held fast, and the Spaniard struck with purpose whenever he lined himself up with a forehand that he could get his body behind.

“When you play in a central court like this, you are losing like this, you are getting small, small, small. Sometimes it's really tough to come back, no?” Robredo said. “I did it. I think that experience help me a lot. Anyway, the passion of the sport. I just wanted to win, till the end, fight till the last ball. That's what I did. In the end it pay back.”

Robredo, who reached the quarterfinals at the US Open last year when he shocked Roger Federer in the round of 16, will next face Federer’s good friend Stan Wawrinka.

Robredo owns a 6-2 lifetime record against Wawrinka but he fell to the Swiss in their last meeting at the Australian Open in January.

“He's a great player. He's playing so good this year - all of his career, but this year especially. Anyway, I will be there fighting for every ball and trying to win one more match.”