Rafael Nadal vs Nick Kyrgios live stream: How to watch Madrid Open online

Rafael Nadal, in his pursuit of a third consecutive clay-court title this season, will have to get through rising Australian star Nick Kyrgios in the third round of the Mutua Madrid Open on Thursday. The 30-year-old Spaniard has looked nearly untouchable on his road to Roland Garross.

While Nadal was surprisingly taken to three sets by Fabio Fognini in his second round match, Kyrgios delivered 14 aces to cruise past Marcos Baghdatis 7-6 (7-1) 6-4 in his Round of 64 match before an easy, straight sets victory over American Ryan Harrison in the Round of 32. Nadal received a first-round bye.

Nadal and Kyrgios are 1-1 in career head-to-head showdowns. As expected, both matches were lengthy tussles. While the young Aussie stunned Nadal in the fourth round of the 2014 Wimbledon, Nadal prevailed in a deciding set in their lone meeting on clay at last year's Rome Masters.

A day before the match, the Spaniard acknowledged that Kyrgios would give him a stern test. “He's a very difficult opponent. He's one of the most difficult players you can play. It's true that I think on clay he's a very, very tough player… I have to play really well to be able to beat him. I think I'm ready to do that. We'll see what happens tomorrow. I don't know what's going to happen.”

Rafael Nadal vs Nick Kyrgios: Stern test for King of Clay

Kyrgios became an overnight sensation in 2014 when he shocked Nadal in the fourth round of the Wimbledon, but he doesn't want that one victory to define his career. “I don’t really think about that match anymore to be honest. I was young, I was playing Rafa on what I think is his worst surface -- he’s won Wimbledon before but it’s by far his worst surface," the Aussie said, via Sport 360.

The 22-year-old Canberran reckons Nadal is the greatest clay-court player in tennis history. “I think he’s the best clay-courter in the world, the greatest clay-courter of all-time. He’s going to be a massive favourite. It’s always going to be tough for any Australian to come play Rafa on clay but I feel if I play the right style of tennis and try and play and commit, I think I can do pretty well," Kyrgios said of the World No. 5.

Rafael Nadal is seeking his third consecutive clay court title after capturing the Monte Carlo Masters and Barcelona Open. After the Madrid Masters, he will participate in the Italian Open, the final stop before the 2017 French Open. Nadal is already tipped as the overwhelming favourite to win an unprecedented 10th Roland Garross title. Rafael Nadal vs Nick Kyrgios live streaming, Madrid Open live streaming and tennis live streaming info follows.

Rafael Nadal vs Nick Kyrgios live stream: How to watch Madrid Open 2017 online

Start time: 4 a.m. (AEST), 8 p.m. (Local Time, CEST), 2 p.m. (ET)
On TV: Tennis Channel (USA), ESPN (Australia), Sky Sports 1 (UK)
Live Stream: Tennis TV (Global), Sky Go (UK), WatchESPN (Australia)

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"It’s (Federer's backhand) night and day. It’s like he (has) found a totally new backhand. (Nadal) has that left-handed forehand that goes into Roger’s backhand, so he usually starts the point behind. Now, he’s capable of holding up under the pressure Rafa puts him under." -- Rod Laver.
(Read More: 'Roger Federer can beat Rafael Nadal at 2017 French Open')