Wimbleson 2022: Rafael Nadal wrestles down Taylor Fritz in pain

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Rafael Nadal

Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP

With irrepressible fighting spirit, Rafael Nadal prevented the end of Wimbledon and reached the semi-finals of the grass classic for the eighth time.

The ailing 36-year-old Spaniard won a five-set thriller against US professional Taylor Fritz 4: 6, 7: 5, 3: 6, 7: 5, 7: 6 (10: 4) and held the chance of a dream -final against defending champion Novak Djoković from Serbia.

The match was a constant ups and downs for Nadal.

At the end of the first set, the Spaniard gave up five games in a row.

In the second round, when the score was 4: 3, he had the physiotherapist come and disappeared into the dressing room for treatment.

With a pained face, he clutched his stomach and leaned on his bat.

Battered Nadal comes back

Nadal didn't look good at all, hardly moved and tried to keep the points as short as possible.

But slowly the treatment seemed to work.

Fritz seemed insecure, Nadal won the second round with a show of strength and caused his opponent to lose the first set of the tournament.

Nadal remained impaired from then on, but also dangerous.

In the decisive round he got the break to 4:3 with a fine stop, Fritz didn't give up.

Nadal had the better nerves in the tie-break and was allowed to celebrate after more than four hours.

He now meets Nick Kyrgios in the semifinals.

Kyrgios stays focused and doesn't lose a sentence

It could be uncomfortable for Kyrgios at home, but he is experiencing a sporting high at Wimbledon.

The Australian, who was controversial because of his antics on the pitch, made it to the semi-finals of a Grand Slam tournament for the first time in his career.

Kyrgios hardly gave the Chilean Cristian Garin a chance at 6: 4, 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 5).

On Tuesday it became known that legal trouble was threatening in the Australian capital Canberra.

The tennis pro has been summoned to court on suspicion of assault.

This was confirmed by Kyrgios' lawyers.

The incident, which attorney Jason Moffet says is "related to a private relationship," is believed to have happened in December 2021.

The vortex didn't seem to bother the 27-year-old on Wednesday.

Unlike the scandalous match against the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas, after which both players received fines, Kyrgios focused exclusively on the sport.

Even in the only tight situation of the match when he was behind in the tie-break of the third set.

"I never thought I'd make it into a Grand Slam semi-final, I thought the train had left," said Kyrgios after his biggest win to date at Wimbledon.

With the success he surpassed his best Grand Slam result so far, the quarter-finals in Wimbledon 2014.

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