Nadal provides update on injury ahead of Wimbledon clash against Kyrgios

Rafael Nadal fears he may not be fit to face Nick Kyrgios in Friday’s blockbuster Wimbledon semi-final – a clash the Australian had said would be the ‘most-watched match of all time’.

Nadal, 36, aggravated an abdominal injury during his epic five-set win over Taylor Fritz and admits he must await the results of scans on Thursday before deciding whether he will be able to play on.

However, the Spaniard required a medical time out, with his father seen urging him to retire

Kyrgios had earlier set up a last-four tie with the record 22-time major winner – who is still on for a calendar Grand Slam – by beating Cristian Garin in straight sets.

But asked if he would be able to continue in the tournament, Nadal replied: ‘I don’t know. I am going to have some more tests but it is difficult to know.

‘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.

Rafael Nadal beat Taylor Fritz in five sets to reach the semi-finals of this year’s Wimbledon

‘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 required a medical time out during his 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 victory over No11 seed Fritz on Centre Court, when his father and sister were seen telling the Spaniard to quit.

‘They told me I need to retire the match,’ confirmed Nadal. ‘For a lot of moments I was thinking I would not be able to finish the match.

‘But it is tough to retire in the middle of a match. It is something I hate to do. It is not easy to leave Wimbledon, even if the pain was hard. I prefer to win, with victory or defeat.’

For once, there was less drama on Court 1 where the unseeded Kyrgios beat Chilean Garin 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 to reach his first Grand Slam semi-final.

‘It will be pretty special to play Rafa,’ said Kyrgios, who famously upset then world No1 Nadal in the fourth round at Wimbledon as a 19-year-old in 2014.

‘I feel like that will be a mouth-watering encounter for everyone around the world. That would probably be the most-watched match of all time.

‘We’ve had some absolute battles on that Centre Court. He’s won one against me and I’ve won one against him.

‘We are two completely different personalities, but we respect the hell out of each other.’

The Australian believes his semi-final with Nadal will be the ‘most-watched match of all time’

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Kyrgios’ quarter-final win came just a day after it was confirmed he will appear in court in Australia next month in relation to an allegation of domestic violence.

‘I have a lot of thoughts, a lot of things I want to say, but I’ve been advised by my lawyers that I’m unable to say anything at this time,’ he said. ‘Obviously I read about it and it was hard to just focus on the mission at hand.

‘But it was the quarter-finals of Wimbledon and I knew deep down that’s what I was prepared for. It didn’t really affect my preparation at all.’
The Australian believes his semi-final with Nadal will be the ‘most-watched match of all time’