Calmer Kyrgios roars into last eight

Unpredictable Aussie extends whirlwind Wimbledon run

Nick Kyrgios stepped into a nearly full Centre Court to polite applause on Monday lunchtime, exited about 3 1/2 hours later to a louder ovation and, somehow, the 100-year-old stadium survived the experience.

In the warm-up period, Kyrgios flicked a ball between his legs and closed with an underarm serve, hardly standard procedure. During the 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-2 victory at Wimbledon over unseeded American Brandon Nakashima that followed, putting Kyrgios in a Grand Slam quarterfinal for the first time in seven and a half years, he tried those sorts of trick shots a few times. Afterward, he ditched his rule-conforming but backward, brim-bent white cap and white shoes in favor of red versions.

"Because," he explained when pressed about the sartorial choices, "I do what I want."