Rafael Nadal misses scheduled practice at Wimbledon amid fears he may be forced to miss crunch semi-final clash with Nick Kyrgios through injury he suffered in quarter-final comeback win
- Nadal had been due to practice on one of the championship courts on Thursday
- There are doubts over his fitness ahead of the semi-final against Nick Kyrgios
- He ignored calls from his box to retire in his quarter-final with Taylor Fritz
- Nadal was struggling with an abdominal problem before coming back to win
Rafael Nadal has arrived on site at Wimbledon but is yet to practice after failing to show for his scheduled slot amid fears he may have to withdraw from his semi-final against Nick Kyrgios through injury.
His representative said it was unclear whether or not he would have a hit today, although booking of courts will not be an issue with relatively few players using the courts at this stage of the tournament.
Nadal, who is due to face Kyrgios in a mouth-watering clash on Friday, ignored calls from his box to retire hurt with an abdominal problem in his comeback five-set win over Taylor Fritz in the quarter-final.
His father Sebastian and sister Maria were both caught by the television cameras frantically gesturing for him to forfeit Wednesday’s last-eight encounter.
Rafael Nadal was struggling with an abdominal problem in his quarter-final win over Taylor Fritz
Nadal’s father Sebastian appeared to urge his son to quit as he battled abdominal pain during Wednesday’s Wimbledon quarter-final
But after taking a medical timeout midway through the second set, the Spaniard roared back to set up a Centre Court showdown with Kyrgios.
Nadal, 36, was scheduled to be on Court 10 at 12:30pm on Thursday.
Asked if he would be able to continue in the tournament after beating American Fritz, Nadal said: ‘I don’t know. I am going to have some more tests but it is difficult to know.
Nadal took a medical timeout in the second set before roaring back to beat Fritz in five sets
‘I had these feelings for a couple of days, but without a doubt, today was the worst day. There has been an important increase of pain and limitation.
‘I am worried. I don’t have a decision. I need to know different opinions and I need to check everything the proper way.
‘There is something more important than winning Wimbledon and that is health.’
Nadal is seeking a third Wimbledon title but it remains unclear whether he will be fit enough to play Kyrgios for a place in Sunday’s final.
The primary concern for Nadal before Wimbledon was his chronic foot issue but the abdomen has been hampering him more.
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