London, July 7 (BUS) – Injured Rafa Nadal showed heroic mental strength to defeat American 11th seed Taylor Fritz in the final set tiebreak during the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Wednesday to keep his Grand Slam quest alive for a calendar year.
Nadal had a stomach injury, and looked close to retiring mid-match but found the will to beat Fritz 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 7-6 (10-4) in four hours and 20 minutes to prepare. Semi-final match against Australian independent Nick Kyrgios, according to Reuters.
During the second set, Nadal’s father and sister fervently urged him from the player’s box in central court to put an end to his misery, but the two-time former Wimbledon champion did not heed the requests.
“They told me I needed to retire from the match,” Nadal said, adding that he himself was considering giving up several times. “Well, I tried. For me it was difficult to retire in the middle of the match.
“I’ve done it a few times in my tennis career. It’s something I hate to do. So, I’m just trying.”
The All England Club, where the Spaniard won two of his 22 majors, was Nadal’s least rewarded spot, but he arrived this year after winning back-to-back Australian Opens for the first time in his career.
A third Wimbledon title and first since 2010 on the trimmed lawn and a US Open victory at Flushing Meadows would see Mallorca win the title on the calendar – a feat last achieved by Australian Rod Laver in 1969.
Fritz, younger than Nadal’s 12-year-old, dealt a blow to the Spaniard earlier this year in the ATP 1000 final at Indian Wells, putting an end to his 20-game season this season.
But Nadal played that match with a stress fracture in his rib – which later led to his being banned from the competition for a month.
strong start
Nadal came into the competition after winning all seven of his quarter-final matches at Wimbledon and pitting himself against Fritz from the start, using his forehand as a breakout sword in the opening match.
Fritz looked a bit tepid in front of the powerful left-hand groundstrokes but he improved in the match and converted his fourth break point in the sixth game to break his serve.
Two costly errors from Nadal gave Fritz another break and the American skipped the opening set, winning five straight games 1-3, 0-30 late.
Nadal took an early lead again in the second set, breaking Fritz when the American slipped and made two forehand errors.
But the Spaniard began to struggle physically – he bowed his head on the field and his hands on his knees – and gave up the advantage with two double faults in the fifth game.
Nadal quickly took a medical leave and returned to the crowded arena to standing ovations. He then broke Fritz’s delivery in the twelfth inning to settle the match in one set.
“I had to find a way to serve a little bit differently,” said Nadal, whose serving speed has fallen dramatically due to injury.
Tense during transitions and still struggling on the court while serving, Nadal broke twice as the American comfortably took the third set.
But he wasn’t ready to throw in the towel yet. Nadal traded breaks twice before claiming the American’s serve for the third time to force the decisive fifth set.
With the crowd firmly behind him, Nadal took the break in the seventh game, and again stared at his player’s chest, but Fritz immediately broke to force a 10-point tiebreaker.
The Spaniard led 5-0 in the tiebreak, then won 25 shots to raucous applause and turned his second match point with a stinging forehand for an unforgettable victory.
“Unfortunately, or fortunately, I am able to manage, improve and adapt to the conditions my body presents to me to continue competing,” he said.
“I have been able to improve my tennis depending on the needs. Something I am happy with.”