Rafael Nadal has reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon on Wednesday. Despite multiple injury treatments, the Spaniard fought back from behind twice and won in five sets: 3-6, 7-5 and 3-6, 7-5 and 7-6 (4).
Nadal suffered an abdominal injury throughout the match – which lasted more than four hours – and even went in for a longer treatment after the first set. He was also treated regularly during breaks during the rest of the game.
It affected Nadal’s play, who served noticeably softer and moved less smoothly over the baseline. It is not for nothing that 24-year-old American Fritz (ATP-14) took the lead twice in sets, but Nadal won the set twice after that 7-5.
In the decisive fifth set it was initially even, but Nadal broke his opponent and took a 4-3 lead. In the game after that, Fritz broke back, after which all games went with the service. In the end, a super tiebreak brought the decision, in which Nadal took the longest and Fritz took only four points.
It is the first time since 2018 that the Spaniard has reached the semi-finals at Wimbledon. Nadal is chasing his first Wimbledon title in London since 2010. Earlier this year, he seized the Australian Open and Roland Garros.
Nadal sits out for a break, his face contorted in pain.
Nadal sits out for a break, his face contorted in pain. Photo: Getty Images
Nadal meets Kyrgios in best career form
Nadal will face Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals. The 27-year-old Australian defeated Chilean Cristian Garín in three sets: 6-4, 6-3 and 7-6 (5). He thus qualified for the semifinals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career.
The 26-year-old Garín had trouble with Kyrgios’ attacking play throughout the match, who was already ahead with two sets after more than an hour of play.
In the third set, Garín was able to offer a little more resistance, but Kyrgios turned out to be the strongest in the tiebreak. He immediately used his first match point of the match. The Australian hit a total of 17 aces and 35 winners.
It was Kyrgios’ first quarterfinal at a Grand Slam since 2014. In that year he reached the quarterfinals of both Wimbledon and the Australian Open.