Huge Aus Open Kyrgios switch confirmed

It comes after world No. 1 Ash Barty cruised through to the semi-finals on Tuesday evening by thumping American Jessica Pegula in straight sets 6-2 6-0.Meanwhile, the behaviour of Melbourne Park crowds was thrust into the spotlight yet again during Matteo Berrettini’s epic five-set victory over Gael Monfils.Aus Open 2022 – SnapshotTennis boss reveals massive Kyrgios switchTennis Australia chief executive Craig Tiley has confirmed the Australian duo of Nick Kyrgios and Thanasi Kokkinakis will play their men’s doubles semi-final on Rod Laver Arena.After defeating world No. 1 seeds Nikola Mektić and Mate Pavić in straight sets, the “Special Ks” have made Kia Arena their fortress this week.Melbourne Park spectators can’t get enough of Kyrgios and Kokkinakis, with their antics becoming one of the highlight of the grand slam.Speaking on Channel 9’s Today, Tiley revealed the Aussie stars will get a chance to strut their stuff in front of a larger audience on centre court when they come up against Argentina’s Horacio Zeballos and Spain’s Marcel Granollers on Thursday.Australian of the Year Dylan Alcott will also play his final professional tennis match on Rod Laver Arena on Thursday, immediately after Kyrgios and Kokkinakis.“We actually are going to move the Special Ks from Kia arena on to Rod Laver Arena,” Tiley said on Wednesday morning.“Anyone coming on site tomorrow with a grand pass can get into Rod Laver Arena and watch them play and not before 2.30pm, followed by Dylan so stay and watch Dylan. We want to make Dylan’s match the most watched wheelchair tennis match in the history of the game tomorrow afternoon.”Day 10 scheduleRod Laver ArenaFrom 11am — D. Collins [27] vs A. CornetNot before 1pm — I. Swiatek [7] vs K. KanepiNot before 3pm — J. Sinner [11] vs S. Tsitsipas [4]From 7:30pm — F. Auger-Aliassime [9] D. Medvedev [2]Melbourne Park crowd capacity liftedThe Victorian Government has increased the crowd capacity at Melbourne Park up to 65 per cent for the remainder of the Australian Open.Martin Pakula, the Victorian Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events, confirmed the decision on Twitter on Wednesday morning,Tennis Australia has lost millions due to the 50 per cent crowd capacity on Rod Laver Arena, a rule that was introduced less than a week before the grand slam tournament got underway.Nadal’s crazy 4kg weight lossSpanish superstar Rafael Nadal has booked his spot in the Australian Open semi-finals with a thrilling five-set victory over Canada’s Denis Shapovalov on Rod Laver Arena.Nadal claimed the opening two sets on Tuesday evening before Shapovalov threatened to pull off a massive upset by forcing a fifth set — but the 20-time grand slam champion prevailed to claim a 6-3 6-4 4-6 3-6 6-3 victory.However, according to reports, Nadal lost four kilograms during the four-hour quarter-final clash in humid conditions.Day 10 previewTitle favourite Daniil Medvedev will need to keep his cool on Wednesday to reach the semi-finals of the Australian Open after a mini-meltdown in the previous round.Should the Russian second seed get past young Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime in the night match on Rod Laver Arena, then the prize could be a last-four showdown with fourth seed Stefanos Tsitsipas.The women’s quarter-finals will wrap up with American Danielle Collins targeting a second Melbourne Park semi-final against giant-killing Frenchwoman Alize Cornet, and Polish seventh seed Iga Swiatek taking on veteran Estonian Kaia Kanepi.The men’s US Open champion Medvedev knows he needs to keep a lid on his temper, which was pushed to the limit in the last round under severe examination by serve-and-volley specialist Maxime Cressy.“It was long and it was not easy, they were all tough sets,” said Medvedev after a tetchy performance where he clashed with the umpire, complained of bad luck and screamed “It’s boring!” at Cressy’s relentless tactics behind his big serve.The US Open champion admitted he was relieved to come through the most severe examination of his title credentials so far.“If I didn’t win the fourth set I would have been in a tough mental shape,” said Medvedev, the de facto top seed after the deportation of defending champion Novak Djokovic on the eve of the tournament.He faces ninth seed Auger-Aliassime who took a confidence-boosting win against the 2018 Australian Open finalist Marin Cilic in four sets in the last 16.“It’s amazing. It puts my belief even higher, I lost three times to Marin in the past, this is my first win against him,” the 21-year-old said.— with AFP Via news.com.au — Australia’s leading news site https://www.news.com.au