Injured Nadal leaves semi-final participation open
Rafael Nadal used tape to try to stabilize his abdominal muscles in the game
Quelle: Offside via Getty Images/Simon Stacpoole/Offside
Tennis star Rafael Nadal is plagued by stomach pains in the game against Taylor Fritz. In five sets, the Spaniard still fights his way into the Wimbledon semifinals. His participation there is on the brink.
Rafael Nadal only wants to make the decision to participate in the Wimbledon semi-finals after examinations for a muscle injury in the abdominal area. “There is something more important than winning Wimbledon, that is health. Let’s see how it develops,” said the 36-year-old Spaniard after his quarter-final victory in a five-set crime thriller against US professional Taylor Fritz and announced medical tests.
The 22-time Grand Slam tournament winner had his symptoms treated in the second set on Wednesday and received anti-inflammatory drugs and painkillers from a doctor, as he himself reported. During the game, his father and sister signaled him to resign. “It’s something I hate. That’s why I tried to keep going,” Nadal said.
With 4: 6, 7: 5, 3: 6, 7: 5, 7: 6 (10: 4) he defeated Fritz in 4:21 hours and kept the chance of a dream final against defending champion Novak Djokovic from Serbia . After triumphing at the Australian Open and French Open, Nadal still has the opportunity to win the Grand Slam, winning all four major tournaments in a year. He will now meet Australian Nick Kyrgios on Friday, who reached his first Wimbledon semi-final by beating Cristian Garin from Chile 6: 4, 6: 3, 7: 6 (7: 5).
“Would be a liar”
“I hope I’m ready to play,” Nadal said. Nadal could not give a clear answer as to whether he would be on the pitch. If he said this and then it turned out otherwise, “then I would be a liar”.
Break in treatment: A doctor provided Nadal with medication
Quelle: AP/Kirsty Wigglesworth
Before the start of the tournament, the Spaniard reported that the chronic pain in his left foot had been relieved with a special therapy. In Barcelona, Nadal had undergone pulsed radiofrequency therapy. The affected foot nerves are numbed with this treatment and can no longer transmit the pain stimulus to the brain. Nadal has been suffering from Müller-Weiss Syndrome, a rare and degenerative disease, for several years.
