Two-time Wimbledon champion Rafael Nadal has pulled out of the tournament due to an abdominal muscle injury. The decision was made a day before he was scheduled to face Nick Kyrgios in the men’s semifinals.
“Unfortunately, as you can imagine, if I am here, it’s because I have to pull out from the tournament,” Nadal said during a news conference.
Rafael Nadal has suffered a “seven-millimeter” tear to his abdomen but still intends to play his Wimbledon semi-final against Nick Kyrgios on Friday, sports daily Marca reported. Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion, underwent scans on the injury on Thursday following his grueling 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10/4) victory over Taylor Fritz in Wednesday’s quarter-finals. The 36-year-old said he was unsure about his ongoing participation in the tournament as he targets the third leg of a rare calendar Grand Slam.
We're sad to see it end this way, @RafaelNadal
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2022
Thank you for another year of unforgettable moments at The Championships#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/XadiEVxaWF
“I can’t give you a clear answer because if I gave you a clear answer and tomorrow another thing happens, I would be a liar,” he said after beating Fritz. Nadal played under similar circumstances at the 2009 US Open when he had a two-centimeter tear. He went on to make the semi-finals, losing to eventual champion Juan Martin del Potro.
Nadal won the Australian and French Opens back-to-back this year for the first time in his career and was bidding to become the first man since Rod Laver in 1969 to complete the calendar-year slam.
“As everybody saw yesterday in (quarter-Final), I have been suffering from abdominal pain. I knew something was not okay there. Yeah, that’s confirmed. I have a tear in a muscle in my abdomen.”
"If I keep going the injury will get worse and worse – I feel very sad to say that"
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2022
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“I was thinking during the whole day about the decision to make.” But he said: “It doesn’t make sense to go (on), even if I try through my career to keep going. It is very tough circumstances but it is obvious if I keep going the injury will be worse and worse.”
Rafael Nadal announced Thursday that he was withdrawing from Wimbledon after failing to recover from an abdominal injury, ending his hopes of a calendar Grand Slam. Semi-final opponent Nick Kyrgios will receive a walkover into Sunday’s final, where he will play either top seed and six-time champion Novak Djokovic or Britain’s Cameron Norrie. Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, was visibly in pain during a grueling five-set win against 11th-seeded American Taylor Fritz on Wednesday.
Nadal was given pain relief during the contest and had a medical time-out in the second set, admitting his father and sister had been gesticulating for him to quit. He practiced at Wimbledon on Thursday afternoon but, in his 7.20 pm (1820 GMT) press conference, he admitted he was unable to continue.
Nadal, who said his injury prevented him from being able to serve properly, added: “I never thought about the calendar Slam, I thought about my diary and my happiness. “I make the decision because I don’t believe I can win two matches under the circumstances. It is not only I can’t serve at the right speed, it is I can’t do the normal movement to serve.
“After that to imagine myself winning two matches, and for respect for myself in some way, I don’t want to go out there and not be competitive enough to play at the level I need to play to achieve my goals.” Nadal was bidding to win his 23rd Grand Slam title and equal Serena Williams in second place on the all-time list for most Grand Slam singles titles. Margaret Court is the leader in 24 titles.
On Thursday’s off-day, however, Nadal went to the All England Club for some light practice, mostly hitting forehands and backhands. He did attempt a few serves, which he was unable to play with full force. He said the serves also caused the most discomfort during Wednesday’s quarterfinals match against Taylor Fritz.
