Nadal turns up for practice ahead of Kyrgios showdown

LONDON: Rafael Nadal turned up for practice at Wimbledon on Thursday, a day after the 22-time Grand Slam winner played through an abdominal injury to defeat American Taylor Fritz in an absorbing quarter-final.

The Spaniard was back hitting forehands and backhands on the practice courts a day before his semi-final against Nick Kyrgios, and also went through his service motions. Nadal had said that he did not know if he would be fit to play against Australian Kyrgios, after appearing close to retiring mid-match against Fritz on Centre Court.

“My sister and father were telling (asking) me to retire. For me, it is tough to quit in the middle of a match. I have done that a couple of times in my career, but I hate doing that. That is why I kept fighting, wanting to finish the match regardless of the result,” Nadal had said post his fighting victory over Fritz on Wednesday.

The 36-year-old Nadal, who is chasing a rare calendar-year Grand Slam after winning the Australian and French Open titles this year, also said that he would undergo more scans on Thursday before deciding what to do.

Nadal’s serve speed dropped drastically from the end of the second set against Fritz – after he took a medical time-out – but he still clinched the match in a final-set tie-breaker.

A third Wimbledon title, and first since 2010 on the manicured lawns, plus a US Open triumph at Flushing Meadows in September would see the Spaniard clinch the calendar slam – a feat last achieved in 1969 by Australian great Rod Laver.

RESULT:Men’s singles: Quarter-finals: T Fritz lost to R Nadal 6-3, 5-7, 6-3, 5-7, 6-7(4-10)