The Spanish icon blatantly ignored pleas from his family to QUIT this four-hour 21-minute epic with American Taylor Fritz as he battled courageously through the pain barrier.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion may have won 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 7-6 on Centre Court but he refused to retire despite a troublesome abdominal injury.
Nadal, who had a brown bandage on the right side of his belly, saw the calls and arm-waving from his concerned father Sebastian and anxious sister Maria Isabel midway through the second set.
Good morning tennis fans.
Rafa Nadal admitted he might not play his blockbuster Wimbledon semi-final against Nick Kyrgios.
And if he cannot make Friday’s showdown, that would see the Australian given a walkover into Sunday’s final.
The Spaniard blatantly ignored pleas from his family to quit this four-hour 21-minute epic with American Taylor Fritz as he battled courageously through the pain barrier.
The 22-time Grand Slam champion may have won 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 7-6 on Centre Court but he refused to retire despite a troublesome abdominal injury.
However, the Australian and French Open champ accepts he faces a race against time to be fit to play foe Kyrgios as he chases the first Calendar Slam in men’s tennis for 53 years.
Asked if it was possible to recover in time for the semis, Nadal replied: “I don’t know. I’m going to have some more tests.
“It is difficult to know. I am used to have things and I am used to having pain and playing with problems.
“Let’s see. It’s obvious that this is nothing new. I had these feelings for a couple of days.
“Without a doubt, this was the worst day. There has been an important increase of pain and limitation.
“I can’t give you a clear answer because if I gave you a clear answer and then another thing happens, I will be a liar”
Another dramatic day from SW19
Oh wow.
We thought yesterday was dramatic (trust me, it was) but then stepped forward Rafael Nadal.
The 22-time Grand Slam champ is still on for the Calendar Slam after a heroic comeback from two sets to one down and an abdominal injury to beat Taylor Fritz in five dramatic sets in four hours and 21 minutes.
He is scheduled to face Nick Kyrgios in Friday’s semi-final after the Aussie kept his composure to down Cristian Garin in straight sets.
Simona Halep and Elena Rybakina booked their spots in the women’s semis – which will take place tomorrow.
And there could be British success on Thursday with Neal Skupski back into the mixed doubles final with Desirae Krawczyk.
Nadal admits he may not play
Major breaking news from Wimbledon – Rafael Nadal confessed he “doesn’t know” if he will play Nick Kyrgios in Friday’s semi.
That would give the Australian a walkover into the final.
Asked if it was possible to recover his ab injury in time for Friday’s semis, Nadal replied: “I don’t know. I’m going to have some more tests.
“It is difficult to know. I am used to have things and I am used to having pain and playing with problems.
“Let’s see. It’s obvious that this is nothing new. I had these feelings for a couple of days.
“Without a doubt, this was the worst day. There has been an important increase of pain and limitation.
“I can’t give you a clear answer because if I gave you a clear answer and then another thing happens, I will be a liar.”
Friday fun
So we now know the four semi-finalists for this year’s Wimbledon.
On the top half, it is top-seed and four-time defending champion against Britain’s Cameron Norrie – who is in his first Major semi.
And on the bottom we have the blockbuster showdown between Rafael Nadal, eyeing a staggering 23rd Grand Slam, and Nick Kyrgios.
Both of those matches will take place on Centre Court on Friday afternoon.
Wimbledon will announce the order of play tomorrow but it is likely to be Kyrgios vs Nadal at 1:30pm followed by Djokovic vs Norrie to maximise the Friday evening UK BBC audience.
But is he going to be fit?
Nadal continued: “Well, I hope to be ready to play it. That is the first thing.
“Then Nick is a great player in all the surfaces, especially here on grass, he is having a great grass-court season.
“It is going to be a big challenge, I need to be at my 100 per cent to keep having chances. That is what I will try to do.”
