After winning both the Australian Open and the French Open earlier this year, Rafael Nadal entered Wimbledon chasing tennis’s first calendar-year Grand Slam since 1969.
Unfortunately for Nadal, that bid has come to an end as the tennis star has withdrawn from the tournament ahead of his semifinal matchup with Nick Kyrgios due to an abdominal tear.
As a result of Nadal’s withdrawal, Kyrgios will receive a walkover into the Wimbledon final where he awaits the winner of Friday’s match between Novak Djokovic and Cameron Norrie.
Nadal advanced to the quarterfinals of Wimbledon with relative ease, dropping just two sets in his first four matches. In the quarterfinal matchup against Tanner Fritz, however, Nadal became hampered by an abdominal injury and was pushed to the brink before ultimately winning the match in a fifth-set tiebreak. While Nadal was able to finish and win that match, he was not able to continue in the tournament.
The Grand Slam Dream is still alive for Nadal! 👏🔥
📺 Wimbledon | LIVE on 9Gem and Stan Sport.#9WWOS #Tennis #Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/IabRvmT46D
— Wide World of Sports (@wwos) July 6, 2022
The news did not exactly come as a shock to those who watched Nadal’s pain-stricken performance against Fritz on Wednesday, but many took to Twitter to express their disappointment anyway.
A real shame. It's not Nadal's fault, of course. But I don't like walkovers, not when you get awarded a place in the final because the opponent is injured.
Taylor Fritz should be allowed back in as a lucky loser to play Nick Kyrgios, but it would never happen.#Wimbledon https://t.co/TWlwx72B3r
— Joe Krishnan (@joekrishnan) July 7, 2022
Can Fritz play?…. https://t.co/I35VsJZBo8
— Georgie Heath (@GeorgieHeath27) July 7, 2022
Well that stinks.
It’s also amazing Nadal won that quarterfinal match https://t.co/BMhXU6zjgu
— Jace frederick (@JaceFrederick) July 7, 2022
That’s a bummer but not unexpected. Wish Fritz had won so we didn’t have a walkover https://t.co/ONHYYVKXOw
— Dan Wolken (@DanWolken) July 7, 2022
Horrible news. Would’ve been appointment viewing TV this match.
Wishing Rafa a speedy recovery. #Wimbledon https://t.co/nwXoiznRJ6
— Lukas Weese (@Weesesports) July 7, 2022
Until next time, Rafa 👋
Wishing you a speedy recovery.#Wimbledon
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2022
Kyrgios when hearing that he's in Wimbledon final pic.twitter.com/N7rhQ6Cj74
— We Are Tennis (@WeAreTennis) July 7, 2022
While the withdrawal ends Nadal’s bid at the Grand Slam, it will not impact his ranking in any way as the ATP elected not to award ranking points at Wimbledon this year following the All England Club’s ban on players from Russia and Belarus.
[ESPN]
