Rafael Nadal entered the Wimbledon semi-finals by winning the fifth set tiebreaker against Taylor Fritz of the United States. Nadal defeated the 11th seeded American 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-4) on center court.
With this win, Nadal’s chances of the Grand Slam of the calendar year remain intact. The 36-year-old Spaniard will next face Nick Kyrgios for a place in Sunday’s final.
Usually so relentless from point to point, Nadal would occasionally watch the ball descend from Taylor Fritz’s racket during the Wimbledon quarterfinals.
Conquering a stomach problem, for which he took a medical timeout, Nadal could not proceed the way he usually does. “Uhhh!” His trademark grunts were rare. They did not produce the typical zip on their service, going from highs of 120 mph to over 100 mph. He sought to end the exchange with a quick-strike forehand or drop shot—sometimes with success, often not.
Much of the center court crowd strongly supported the 22-time dominant champion, roaring and standing after his best stroke, Nadal found a way to hang in there and twice a set deficit against 11th seed Fritz. Eliminated, emerging with a 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-4) victory to reach their eighth semi-final at the All England Club.
Nadal extended his unbeaten score in Grand Slam matches to 19-0 in 2022 as he looks to add a trophy at Wimbledon to his wins at the Australian Open in January, then the French Open in June. For all he has achieved, the 36-year-old Spaniard has never won the first three Slam titles of a season.
On Friday, Nadal will meet 27-year-old Australian Nick Kyrgios, who will make his Grand Slam semi-final debut after a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (5) win over Chile’s Cristian Garin.
The other men’s semi-final will be against No. 1 Novak Djokovic against No. 9 Cam Nori.
In the women’s semi-finals on Thursday, 2019 champion Simona Halep will face No. 17 Elena Rybakina and No. 3 Ons Jabur will face unseeded Tatjana Maria.
Halep went on to beat United States No. 20 Amanda Anisimova 6–2, 6–4, and Rybakina defeated Ajla Tomljanovic 4–6, 6–2, 6–3.
Nadal leads Kyrgios 6-3 in their one-on-one series, but is also 1-all at Wimbledon: Kyrgios, just 19 and 144th, announced himself to the world by the astonishing Nadal in 2014; Nadal won the rematch in 2019.
Give Kyrgios credit for honesty: He didn’t even think this day would ever come. Kyrgios became the first unseeded and lowest ranked man to reach the last four at the All England Club since 2008, which, for him, equates to a restrained and skilful brand of tennis.
“I thought my ship had sailed,” said Kyrgios. “Obviously I didn’t think about the good things early in my career and I may have ruined that little window. But the way I just got back here, I’m really proud of it.”
40th-ranked Kyrgios has drawn more attention for his behavior on and off the court than for his skill with the racket in hand. His match against unseeded Garrin, a 26-year-old Chilean, came a day after police in Canberra, Australia, said Kyrgios would face a general assault charge stemming from an incident in December in court next month. Will have to do
“I have a lot of ideas, a lot of things I want to say, my side of it,” Kyrgios said in a post-match press conference on Wednesday. “Obviously I have been advised by my lawyers that I am unable to say anything at this time.”
After his first-round win at Wimbledon last week, Kyrgios was fined $10,000 for spitting at the spectators. Equally controversial was his third-round victory over No. 4 seed Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Kyrgios was fined another $4,000 for an audible obscenity; Later, Tsitsipas called him a “bully” and “evil”.
It’s also worth noting how well Kyrgios is playing. His serve, in particular, is one of the best in the game, regularly topping 130 mph, and he hit 17 aces against Garin while he broke just once—the very first game. In love.
His big forehand is also superb, but there’s something a little more traditional about Kyrgios. An example: “I don’t have a coach,” Kyrgios said with a smile. “I would never put that burden on anyone.”
(input AP)