“Given the circumstances we can be happy. From now on it will be more and more difficult. When we arrived in London we did not think about winning, but now he is among the favourites”, he highlighted. Francis Roig at the end of the training that Rafael Nadal carried out on court 16 at Wimbledon, just 100 meters from the center, where he will enter today to play his quarterfinal match against the American Taylor Fritz, in the second shift (not before 4:00 p.m. hours, Movistar).
Nadal he devoted the training to adjusting blows. Without the usual intensity at other times. Barely an hour and 30 minutes, together with Mark Lopez. A very selective rally, dedicated especially to returning low balls to his backhand, which they suppose Fritz will send him today, in addition to fine-tuning the forehand parallels from the bottom of the court and adjusting his remains. Not one of the serve. Of his problems with his left foot, also not a word. “I’m healthy enough to fight for what I want,” said the Manacorí these days.
It’s time for rest ?#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/FYidOUAgpM
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2022
“No news good news,” stressed Roig. If they landed in London “thinking about being able to compete for foot treatment”, now after four games, the coach assures that “Rafa is playing better every day”.
Two weeks ago to think that, after three years absent from Wimbledon, Nadal would be in the quarterfinals is, without a doubt, the best news. Nadal is where he wanted. He feels that he has improved many things, but also that, if he wants to move forward, “you have to go up a level.”
“I’m healthy enough to fight for what I want”
Rafael Nadal
Nadal was comfortable. The ball traveled to him as he wanted, although always meticulous, he frowned when he did not touch it well or Marc López did not put it where he wanted. “We work on more punctual and specific things to have the conviction to execute them in the matches. Now it’s time to dominate the point and go forward,” said Roig, before the match against Fritz. The first real test of Nadal’s moment.
Forget Indian Wells
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“Fritz is a tough opponent. He serves very well and moves better. This season he has taken a step forward,” explained the Catalan coach, who downplayed the last confrontation with the American in Indian Wells, when he won the final. “It has nothing to do with it, first because it was played on cement and then because both of them were injured.” Nadal of the rib and Fritz of the ankle.
Fritz remembered it. “It will be very different. We were both dead there after the semifinals. Now with both of us healthy… we’ll see what happens. If I want to win I’ll have to play aggressive, there’s no other way,” said the American, who arrives without having lost any set in the previous four games and after winning the tournament at Eastbourne on grass.