Spaniard Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday that he has withdrawn from the English Wimbledon championship, the third Grand Slam, because he has not recovered from an abdominal muscle injury.
This means Australian Nick Kyrgios has advanced to the first Grand Final of his career without any game, where he will face the winner between Serb Novak Djokovic and Briton Cameron Nouri.
The 36-year-old Nadal, who has won 22 major titles, appeared to have been badly injured during his quarter-final match against American Taylor Fritz, and the Spanish newspaper Marca reported that he was suffering from a torn abdominal muscle. from seven millimeters.
We’re sad to see it all ended like this @RaphaelDonalds
Thank you for another year of unforgettable moments at the Championship#Wimbledonpic.twitter.com/XadiEVxaWF
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2022
Earlier Wednesday, Nadal admitted he was unsure about his readiness to face Kyrgios on Friday due to an injury that required him to see a doctor in the second set of his match and Fritz to treat stomach pains before wrapping up a thrilling match. a match he decided in his favor after five sets 3-6 and 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10-4) in four hours and 21 minutes.
Nadal, who won twice at Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010, estimated the time he needed to recover from injury at “three to four weeks”, which means that this will not affect his future participation.
And Marka said that this is not the first time Nadal has had to play in such conditions. In 2009, he fought Flushing Meadows with a two centimeter gap and lost in the semifinals to Argentinean Juan Martin del Potro.
Although he trained on Thursday afternoon, Nadal admitted in a press conference that he could not continue, meaning his quest to win every Grand Slam in one season (he had won the Australian and Roland Garros titles earlier this year) was over. and he became the first player to do so. An achievement since Australian Rod Laver in 1969.
Nadal was looking to win his 23 Grand Slam titles and an equal number of American Serena Williams, finishing second on the list of Grand Slam title holders in the amateur and professional eras behind Australia’s Margaret Court (24 titles).
Source: AFP