Ailing Nadal finds a way past Fritz to keep calendar Slam hopes alive

Spaniard Rafael Nadal, the second seed, advanced to the last four of Wimbledon by winning against American Taylor Fritz, the No 11 seed, 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in London on Wednesday.

Nadal, who improved to 8-0 lifetime in Wimbledon quarter-finals, will play Australian Nick Kyrgios next.

The pair have met nine times previously with Nadal winning six; they have met twice at Wimbledon, and split the meetings.

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Kyrgios: playing Nadal would probably be “most-watched match of all-time”

“It would be pretty special to play Rafa here,” Kyrgios said if the impending clash. “We’ve had some absolute battles on that Centre Court. He’s won one against me, and I’ve won one against him.

“Obviously, we know, two completely different personalities. I feel like we respect the hell out of each other, though. I feel like that would be a mouth-watering kind of encounter for everyone around the world. That would probably be the most-watched match of all time. I would argue that.”

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Nadal’s quest for the calendar Slam continues

The Spaniard, bidding for his 23rd major title this Wimbledon fortnight, was facing an first-time Grand Slam quarter-finalist who was playing in his 23rd main draw at a Grand Slam. Nadal needed every bit of his experience to withstand 19 aces and 56 winner from the 24-year-old American’s racquet, as he rallied from two sets to one down to claim his 310th career Grand Slam victory. 

“From my personal side it was not an easy match at all,” Nadal said. “So just very happy to be in the semi finals, that’s all.

“The body in general [is] fine. Of course in the abdominal something is not going well, being honest. So yeah, I had to find a way to serve a little bit different.

“In a lot of moments I was thinking maybe I will not be able to finish the match but I don’t know: the court, the energy something else [helped me through].”

The 36-year-old Spaniard defeated Argentinian Francisco Cerundolo (6-4, 6-3, 3-6, 6-4), Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis (6-4, 6-4, 4-6, 6-3), Italian Lorenzo Sonego, the No 27 seed (6-1, 6-2, 6-4) and Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp, the No 21 seed (6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (6)) in the previous rounds.

Earlier in the tournament, Fritz, ranked No 14, beat Italian Lorenzo Musetti (6-4, 6-4, 6-3), wildcard Alastair Gray (6-3, 7-6 (3), 6-3), Slovak Alex Molcan (6-4, 6-1, 7-6 (3)) and Australian qualifier Jason Murray Kubler (6-3, 6-1, 6-4).

London (Grand Slam), other quarter-finals results (All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, grass, GBP 40.350.000, most recent results first):

• Nick Kyrgios beat Cristian Garin: 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (5)
• Cameron Norrie (9) beat David Goffin: 3-6, 7-5, 2-6, 6-3, 7-5
• Novak Djokovic (1) beat Jannik Sinner (10): 5-7, 2-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-2

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