Kyrgios: “Federer is just dicing people up”

Will a new Wimbledon gentlemen’s singles champion be crowned in 2018?

Australian Nick Kyrgios is not convinced – believing former winners Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic remain the title favourites.

Only eight of the world’s top 16-ranked men remain, with early losses for top 10 stars Marin Cilic, Grigor Dimitrov, Dominic Thiem and David Goffin in the opening two rounds leaving the draw wide open.

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Along with Andy Murray, the sport’s ‘Big Four’ have shared the past 15 Wimbledon titles. The last person outside of those four players to win Wimbledon was Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.

“Novak is looking really confident. Rafa beat a tough guy today on grass, Kukushkin, (who) is not easy to beat. To beat him in straight sets is really solid. Federer is just dicing people up,” Kyrgios said after a second round win.

“I don’t know if we can do much. We can just take care of business every day until we meet them. Hopefully we can play our best tennis. If that’s not good enough, it’s not good enough. Can’t really do much.”

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Kyrgios posted a 6-3 6-4 7-5 second round victory over Dutchman Robin Haase, where he shared a comical exchange with umpire James Keothavong after being fault footed.

Sometimes, you've just got to take them on the chin – right @NickKyrgios?#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/SkgeXJbeuw

— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 5, 2018

Keothavong later left his chair to demonstrate to Kyrgios how his service action was getting him in trouble.

Chair umpire James Keothavong hands Nick Kyrgios a hilarious mid-match lesson in service rules during second-round win.

WATCH: https://t.co/fLCTM547ZW #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/Xxsz7WNk1l

— 7Sport (@7Sport) July 5, 2018

Kyrgios now faces No.24-seeded Kei Nishikori in the third round.

World No.3 Alexander Zverev looms as a potential fourth round opponent – if the German can recover from a two-sets-to-one deficit to beat American Taylor Fritz.

The No.68-ranked Fritz led 4-6 7-5 7-6(0) when their match was suspended late on day four. It resumes at the start of the fourth set tomorrow.

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