Sports

Nadal out of Wimbledon with abdominal injury, Kyrgios into final


Rafael Nadal of Spain holds a press conference on day 11 of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7, 2022. - Today, Rafael Nadal announced that he would withdraw from Wimbledon after failing to recover.  an abdominal wound.  (Photos by Andrew TOTH / various sources / AFP) / LIMITED USE EDIT

Tennis player Rafael Nadal of Spain holds a press conference on day 11 of the 2022 Wimbledon Championships at the All England Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 7, 2022. Today, Nadal has announced that he will be withdrawing from Wimbledon after failing to recover from a wound in his abdomen. (AFP)

LONDON – Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he would be withdrawing from Wimbledon after failing to recover from an abdominal injury, ending his hopes of a Grand Slam calendar.

Semi-final rival Nick Kyrgios will qualify for Sunday’s final, where he will play top seed and six-time champions Novak Djokovic or Britain’s Cameron Norrie.

Nadal, 22-time Grand Slam champion, was clearly hurt in a grueling match won five sets against 11th seed American Taylor Fritz on Wednesday.

Spanish sports daily Marca earlier on Thursday reported that Nadal had a “seven millimeter” tear in his abdomen but still intends to play.

But the 36-year-old has scheduled a press conference later in the day at the All England Club, where he confirmed he will be withdrawing.

“Unfortunately as you can imagine, I’m here because I have to withdraw from the tournament,” the two-time Wimbledon champion said.

“As you all saw yesterday, I have pain in my stomach and something is wrong there. It is confirmed, I have a muscle tear.”

The Spaniard said he pondered what decisions to make all day.

But he said: “Going on doesn’t make any sense, even if I’ve tried throughout my career to keep going. It was a very difficult situation but obviously if I continue the injury will get worse and worse.”

The second seed was hurt in the match against Fritz, he won 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7/6 (10/4) in four hours and 21 minutes.

Nadal was given pain relief during the competition and had to recuperate in the second set, admitting that his father and sister encouraged him to give up.

He practiced at Wimbledon on Thursday afternoon, but during his 7.20pm press conference (18:20 GMT) he admitted he couldn’t continue.

His decision to withdraw ended his hopes of winning all four majors in the same year after victories at this year’s Australian Open and French Open.

The last man to reach the Grand Slam calendar was Rod Laver, in 1969.

Nadal, who said his injury has prevented him from serving well, added: “I never think about the Slam calendar, I think about my diary and my happiness.

“I made the decision because I don’t believe I can win two games under any circumstances. It’s not just that I can’t serve at the right speed, it’s that I can’t make the normal motion to serve.

“Then imagine I’ve won two games, and to respect myself in a way, I don’t want to go out there and not be competitive enough to play at the level I need to play to get there. your goal.”

Nadal is bidding to win his 23rd Grand Slam title and is level with Serena Williams in second place on the all-time list for most Grand Slam singles titles. Margaret Court is the leader on 24 titles.

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