Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.
Then again, mimicry can be mockery when Nick Kyrgios is involved.
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Kyrgios needled nemesis Rafael Nadal mimicking the 19-time Grand Slam champion's service motion during his Australian Open victory over Gilles Simon.
Hit with a time violation warning, Kyrgios, who typically plays quickly in his service games, responded by imitating Nadal's pre-serve routine pushing his hair behind his ears and picking at the seat of his shorts.
The move prompted a smile from the chair umpire. Kyrgios downplayed his imitation after stopping Simon in four sets.
"I know what you're getting at," a smiling Kyrgios told the media. "That's part of my motion. So I started my service motion. There wasn't any extracurricular activities I was doing before my serve to waste time. I mean, it happened. That's the ref's discretion whether I went over the clock or not. It really didn't matter too much."
It's Kyrgios' latest major shot at Nadal. At Wimbledon last summer, the Aussie admitted he tried drilling Nadal in the chest with a passing shot that the Spaniard deflected with his racquet.
Asked about Kyrgios' action after his second-round win over Federico Delbonis, Nadal shrugged it off.
"I really don't care," Nadal said. "I am here to play tennis. Honestly, I don't care at all. If was funny, good. That's it."
The pair could collide in the fourth round if Nadal beats ATP Cup teammate Pablo Carreno Busta and the 23rd-seeded Kyrgios conquers Karen Khachanov in his third-round match.
If we see a Nadal vs. Kyrgios rematch in Melbourne will the temperamental Aussie, who relishes the underhand serve, dare serve up a Rafa imitation to the king of clay's face?
Photo credit: Mark Peterson/Corleve