It was the "super salty" blockbuster clash tennis fans around the world wanted to see and Nick Kyrgios and Rafael Nadal duly obliged on Tuesday by setting up a second-round showdown at Wimbledon.
When last Friday's men's draw set the pair on a collision course, the only fear was that Yuichi Sugita and Jordan Thompson might gatecrash a reunion between the duo who are not exactly considered best buddies on the tour.
As it was, Nadal dispatched the Japanese 6-3 6-1 6-3, while Kyrgios, no stranger to hurling chairs across a court when things don't go his way, was almost on his best behaviour as he secured a 7-6(4) 3-6 7-6(10) 0-6 6-1 win over his compatriot.
Considering Nadal accused Kyrgios of disrespect after losing to him in Acapulco earlier and the Australian hit back by describing the 18-time Grand Slam champion as being «super salty» in defeat, sparks could fly again when they face off for the seventh time, with their rivalry deadlocked at 3-3.
However, on Tuesday both players refused to get dragged into a war of words.
"Not sure that me and Rafa could go down to the Dog & Fox (pub) and have a beer together... we have a mutual respect but that's about it," said Kyrgios, who beat the Majorcan in their only previous meeting at Wimbledon.
"He's one of the greatest tennis players of all time. I go into that match as an unbelievable underdog."
As for Nadal, his only words on the subject were: "I'm too old for all that stuff."
That might be the case but Nadal and his long-time 'frenemy' Roger Federer showed that age was no barrier when it came to winning matches.
The Swiss, chasing a record ninth Wimbledon title, was not exactly at his regal best on a day the Duchess of Cambridge had dropped in to cheer him on but that did not stop Federer handing Wimbledon debutant Lloyd Harris a 3-6 6-1 6-2 6-2 defeat.
