Rafael Nadal dramatically PULLS OUT of Wimbledon on the eve of his semi-final against Nick Kyrgios with an abdominal injury… handing the Australian bad boy a free pass into Sunday’s final
- Rafael Nadal struggled through semi-final win despite abdominal issue
- Injury proved too much and he pulled out of a practice session on Thursday
- His withdrawal means Nick Kyrgios has been given a free pass to the final
- He will face the winner of Novak Djokovic vs British No 1 Cameron Norrie
Rafael Nadal has given up his struggle to win the calendar Grand Slam by pulling out of Wimbledon.
The 36 year old Spaniard announced he was pulling out after a 45 minute practice session earlier in the day in which he clearly looked hampered.
By doing so he gave Nick Kyrgios a free pass into what will be his first grand slam final.
Rafael Nadal pulled out of a practice session and the pain was too much for him to continue
Nadal was struggling with an abdominal problem in his quarter-final win over Taylor Fritz
Nick Kyrgios has been given a bye to the final with Nadal unable to compete
The 27 year old Australian will meet the winner of Novak Djokovic versus cam Norrie in an altered Centre Court schedule.
Nadal stays unbeaten at Slams in 2022 after winning the Australian and French Opens.
He decided that the abdominal injury hindering his serve was not going to allow him to compete properly.
Spanish newspaper Marca has reported Nadal has a 7mm tear in one of his abdominal muscles
It is a sad end to the tournament for the Spaniard, who will play no further part
Kyrgios will either play Novak Djokovic or Cameron Norrie in the final on Sunday
Nadal ignored calls from his box to retire hurt with an abdominal problem in his comeback five-set win over Taylor Fritz in their 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.
But after taking a medical timeout midway through the second set, the Spaniard roared back to set up a Centre Court showdown with Kyrgios.
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
Advertisement
