Rafael Nadal battled injury problems to come from behind twice to reach the Wimbledon semifinals as he beat American Taylor Fritz 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 7-6 (10-4) in an epic final set tie-breaker.
Nadal's quest for a Calendar Grand Slam and a record 23rd major was in serious doubt when he required a medical timeout to treat an abominable issue in the second set. He admitted in his post-match interview he considered throwing in the towel but after four hours and 20 minutes on court the 36-year-old somehow came through it.
Channelling the same mentality that saw him come from two sets down to beat Daniil Medvedev to win the Australian Open back in January, Nadal found his rhythm in the latter stages of the match and saved his best til last in a crucial final set tie-break.
A dejected 11th seed Fritz departed Centre Court to huge cheers as he missed out on a first Grand Slam semifinal appearance. Instead, it'll be Nadal who takes on Aussie livewire Nick Kyrgios, who sailed through his quarterfinal in straight sets against Cristian Garin.
The Sporting News was on hand to bring you live updates of the match from Centre Court - check out how the action unfolded below.
Rafael Nadal vs. Taylor Fritz result
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal (2) | 3 | 7 | 3 | 7 | 7 (10) |
| Taylor Fritz (11) | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 6 (4) |
Rafael Nadal vs. Taylor Fritz updates and highlights from Wimbledon 2022
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Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 7-6 (10-4) Taylor Fritz - NADAL WINS FIFTH SET AND THE MATCH
Nadal's return is long. But on the next point he unleashes a forehand that Fritz can't return and Nadal is through to the semifinals!
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 (9-3) Taylor Fritz
Nadal wins an epic point that leaves Fritz on the floor. Some in the crowd think he's won it but it's the first to 10 points. Nadal wins the next and is in cruise control. He rattles another forehand with so much pace Fritz can't get near it.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 (6-3) Taylor Fritz
Fritz gets another as Nadal puts a forehand beyond the base line. The American rattles an ace to reduce the deficit to two points. Fritz then puts a backhand wide and Nadal's almost there.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 (5-1) Taylor Fritz
Nadal lures Fritz in with an inviting drop shot but he can't return it. This time Nadal puts one deep to force Fritz into a tricky return and again the backhand can't clear the net. Fritz then decides to come to the net during a short rally and wins the point on the volley.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 (3-0) Taylor Fritz
Fritz hurls himself in the air to make an ambitious shot but his athletic effort sees the ball drop just out. The American then puts consecutive backhands into the net to fall three points behind.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 Taylor Fritz
A forehand winner and a forehand long put Nadal 30-0 up. Fritz is frustrated as he makes the same mistake again. Nadal drills one down the middle to hold to love. A tie-breaker will decide this epic match.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 5-6 *Taylor Fritz
The American hits a sweet forehand down the line that catches Nadal off guard, 30-0. Nadal pulls one back but Fritz gets within one point of an important hold with a forehand to the back left. He holds with his 18th ace of the match.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 5-5 Taylor Fritz
Nadal goes aggressive right from the off with a backhand volley at the net. His serve also has added venom as Fritz can't return another two, 40-15. Nadal then has two overhead smashes to see out the game but makes a mess of them, luckily he has a deft drop shot still in the locker and uses that to get the hold.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-5 *Taylor Fritz
A few long rallies take it out of both players in this game but Nadal hits a delicate drop shot to slow down the pace at a crucial time to get to deuce. Fritz keeps his composure though and two shots later has the hold.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-4 Taylor Fritz
Fritz saves one of his best shots of the match to go 15-30 up, an awkward.-looking backhand clipped over the net that Nadal can't get to having run from the base line. At 30-30 Nadal's drop shot doesn't come off and Fritz punishes him to set up break point. Nadal sends a backhand into the net and Fritz breaks! This one is going the distance...
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-3 *Taylor Fritz
Big cheers as Nadal gets to 0-30 by giving Fritz the run around. Fritz wins the next but then puts his hands on his head as he misses a volley at the net, two break points for Nadal. He drills a 129mph serve to save one. He raises his hands above his head again, this time it's to apologise to Nadal as his forehand hits the tape and just trickles over, deuce. Nadal comes to the net and waits to pull off a cushioned volley to get break point again. Fritz saves and then Nadal can't return a serve out wide. A couple of deuces pass by before Nadal gets another. This time he gets it! Fritz can't get to the net in time to return a drop shot.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 3-3 Taylor Fritz
Nadal is a little slow off the mark to get to a drop shot and can only return it Ito the net, 30-15. Fritz has to guess which way Nadal's going to send a forehand winner on the next and goes the wrong way, 40-15. The Spaniard then hits two forehand efforts long to bring up deuce. Back to back mistakes let him off though and there's little to separate the pair as we reach crunch time.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 2-3 *Taylor Fritz
Relentless power. Two words to describe Fritz's hold to love here.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 2-2 Taylor Fritz
Nadal's serving back above the 100mph line more regularly right now and that helps get him to 30-0. He hits a sweet double handed backhand into the back left corner, 40-0, before going on to hold to love.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 1-2 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz rues missed efforts as he sends one forehand long and the other into the net, 30-30. Luckily he can bail himself out with an ace, 40-30 and then Nadal makes a mistake.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 1-1 Taylor Fritz
Fritz is happy to rally from the base line but you feel if he came to the net on a few of these points he'd win them. He doesn't though and Nadal picks him off.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 0-1 *Taylor Fritz
If Fritz doesn't win this match given the pain Nadal was in earlier on he's going to be cursing himself for a long time, even if it is a 22-time Grand Slam champion he's playing! He's battling on though and holds to love.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 Taylor Fritz - NADAL WINS FOURTH SET
Nadal apologies as his shot clips the net mid-rally before Fritz return long but really he won't care, he needs this hold. Fritz overhits another, 30-0. Huge cheers as Nadal follows up with an ace. He gets it! A forehand winner down to the left and it's two sets all. No celebration from Nadal again... he calms walks back to his chair. He's now gone off court again...
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 6-5 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz wins the first but there's nothing he can do about Nadal's whipped forehand to the back right on the second.Another Nadal winner coupled with a Fritz forehand wide gives him break point. Fritz sends a forehand long and Nadal breaks at the perfect opportunity!
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 5-5 Taylor Fritz
Fritz means business, he rattles off a forehand winner that kisses the base line for the opener. Nadal responds in typical fashion, hitting one of his own, 15-15. Nadal wins the next two, picking his corners again, 40-15, and holds with an ace.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 4-5 *Taylor Fritz
A few nerves for Fritz as he double faults, 15-30. Nadal can't return the next two serves but then hits a stunning forehand down the line, deuce. Nadal brings up break point as Fritz's forehand goes long after Nadal forced him to play his shot from the base line. Fritz saves it with a forehand winner of his own. Really high quality from both players right now. Fritz holds as Nadal eventually hits the net after a long rally. The American is one game away!
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 4-4 Taylor Fritz
Nadal continues to fight on but Fritz hammers a huge overhead smash at the net to get to 15-30. Nadal errors bring up break point and then Nadal goes big on a forehand but sends it long. Fritz gets an important break!
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 4-3 *Taylor Fritz
The American double faults, 30-15, before Nadal hits the net. Another error from the Spaniard and he holds again.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 4-2 Taylor Fritz
Nadal is certainly looking more comfortable on his serve even if he's not getting the most amount of power on them. He delivers an ace on his way to holding to 15.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 3-2 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz gets to 30-0, he guesses right with a volley at the net on the second point. Nadal then returns long and Fritz follows with an ace.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 3-1 Taylor Fritz
Nadal comes to the net but Fritz reads it and sends a forehand beyond him to take the opener. Nadal responds with the most delicate of drop shots, brilliant. Nadal is back to double-faulting though, this time he present break point. He pulls out the drop shot again to save him. And again! Three drop shots of the exact same making before Fritz puts one long.
In other news, on No.1 Court, Nick Kyrgios has just beaten Cristian Garin 6-4 6-3 7-6 to reach the semifinals and he awaits Nadal or Fritz.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 2-1 *Taylor Fritz
Nadal has three break points as Fritz makes a mess of some easy forehands. He gets two back, the second a forehand shot right into the back corner but his third goes just beyond the base line.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 1-1 Taylor Fritz
Any energy Nadal may be lacking in his legs has gone to his arms. A couple of explosive forehand winners gets him to 30-15. Fritz then hits a return long before Nadal finds the net, 40-30. His awkward backhand at the next goes wide too, deuce. Nadal double faults before Fritz hist a backhand down the line to get break point. The Spaniard hits a backhand into the net and Fritz breaks straight back.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 1-0 *Taylor Fritz
Slow and steady from Fritz before an ace gets him to 40-30. Nadal switches things up with a sumptuous drop shot to get to deuce. Nadal shows he's still got some energy left in the tank as he sprint to make a drop shot to get break point. He goes aggressive again and gets the break with a lovely forehand winner to the right side.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 Taylor Fritz - FRITZ WINS THIRD SET
Nadal should do better with a backhand volley at the net but his approach is too slow and he hits it into the net, 15-5. Fritz hits another winner, 15-30. Nadal then sends one long and Fritz has two set points. Nadal goes for the big shot again but it's wide and Fritz leads two sets to one! Perhaps any potential painkillers he had at the previous medical timeout are wearing off a little now...
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-5 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz opens up his body to hit a sweet forehand winner, 30-15 before Nadal hits a forehand beyond the base line. Fritz is again devastating with the forehand to pick Nadal off once more.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-4 Taylor Fritz
Nadal shows agility to hit a controlled backhand volley, 30-15. Fritz hits one long at the next and then wide. Nadal holds.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 2-4 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz looks comfortable on serve and he knows Nadal is struggling for power in returning on his backhand. He exploits this to hold to 15.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 2-3 Taylor Fritz
Fritz knows he should be taking advantage of a struggling Nadal but also knows there's not much he can do about his whipped forehands right into the back corners. He does return one though which gets a loud cheer from the crowd, 30-15. Nadal finds his line again though on the forehand and holds.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 1-3 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz has Nadal doing plenty of running in this game but the latter doesn't look as sharp as we know he can be. A couple of Fritz errors gets him to 30-30 before Nadal's backhand return on the move is weak again. Fritz closes with an ace down the middle.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 1-2 Taylor Fritz
Fritz picks his corners with two big forehands Nadal can only return into the net, 15-30. Nadal gets level but then goes big on a forehand winner and it's just wide, break point. He double faults!
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 1-1 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz gets to 40-0 with two aces. He holds to love as Nadal puts a backhand wide.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 1-0 Taylor Fritz
Both players slip mid-rally but Nadal stays on his feet to hit a backhand volley, 30-0. Nadal pushes on to hold. Remember, that was the first set Fritz has lost at Wimbledon this campaign.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 7-5 *Taylor Fritz - NADAL WINS SECOND SET
Nadal has Fritz doing all the running on the opener and he gets there but the No.2 seed is waiting at the net to volley home. Fritz responds by playing the perfect lobbed effort that lands on the base line, 15-15. A forehand winner and a forehand long follow from Fritz, 30-30. Nadal gets set point as Fritz blasts a forehand long again. Nadal takes it! A backhand volley to win it. Barely any reaction though and he heads straight to his chair. Will he last another two sets at least?
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 6-5 Taylor Fritz
Nadal doesn't seem too keen on getting into long rallies at present and he's picking his corners to save some energy it would seem. He hits a lovely lob to get to 15-15 before Fritz makes a mistake on the next. He lets his forehand do the talking to get to 40-15, a fierce shot right from the back of the court to the other. Fritz makes another error on the deciding point.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 5-5 *Taylor Fritz
A rare double fault for Fritz, 15-15. Nadal then does brilliantly to stay in the rally with Fritz missing several opportunities and gets to 30-30. Nadal hits a backhand into the net on the next point and then fires a forehand way long.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 5-4 Taylor Fritz
The serves are just about reaching the 100mph mark which will be of great benefit to Fritz. Nadal smashes home a forehand right to the back of the court to go 30-15 up. Fritz then puts a return long before Nadal adjusts his feet to whip another forehand winner. He holds.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 4-4 *Taylor Fritz
Nadal loses the first three points with any real fight and then doesn't attempt to get anywhere near a Fritz forehand winner. Let's see how Nadal does on his serve...
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 4-3 Taylor Fritz
Fritz pulls off a delightful backhand drop shot to cancel out Nadal's initial effort. Nadal looks to be struggling on his serve though, he can't get the power he's used to and that leads to Fritz getting a break point. His first serve is struggling to reach over 100mph but he's still capable of whipping the forehand and back to back of those gets him back in control. Nadal then sends one up in the air... the crowd make a right mess of catching it, deuce. Fritz hits two errors and Nadal holds but he doesn't look happy.
Nadal has called his trainer on to take a look. It looks like it could be an abdominal issue causing him problems and he's walked slowly off the court for treatment. Medical time out.
Nadal comes back out, picks up his racket and heads to the base line. We're game on for now.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 3-3 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz uses the momentum from the break to get to 40-0 with a few big serves. Nadal reminds him what his forehand possesses with a return winner down the line, 40-15. Fritz hits two more into the net, deuce. before serving an ace. Nadal then hits a wayward return wide and Fritz holds.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 3-2 Taylor Fritz
Fritz gets to 15-30 with a few aggressive forehands Nadal can't return. Nadal then double faults to present Fritz with two break points. Fritz's forehand wide costs him the first. Nadal goes big on a forehand at the next but it flys into the net and Fritz gets the break.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 3-1 *Taylor Fritz
Much better from Fritz as he's patient in the rally to allow Nadal into making the mistakes and then serves up an ace, 40-0. Nadal hits a forehand into the net to give Fritz the hold.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 3-0 Taylor Fritz
Hard to tell if Nadal is just extremely focused or if something is bothering him but he's not showing much emotion at all. He gets to 40-0 like a man in a rush with somewhere to be. Fritz gets two back, Nadal missing an easy volley at the net for the first time. Fritz then puts a backhand into the net.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 2-0 *Taylor Fritz
On the third point Fritz slips but still manages to hit a forehand from the floor! Nadal punishes him with a forehand winner, 15-30. Fritz makes a few silly mistakes and his last forehand of the game goes wide as Nadal gets an early break in this second set.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 1-0 Taylor Fritz
Nadal has won his last two matches in straight sets but remember his opening two matches saw him win in four sets each. Nadal serves up another double fault, most unlike him, 15-15. He keeps his cool though to hold.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 *Taylor Fritz - FRITZ WINS FIRST SET
A couple of big serves gets him to 30-0 and then he drills an ace. Three set points... he needs just one as he serves up another ace. What an impressive first set from the American.
*Rafael Nadal 3-5 Taylor Fritz
Fritz gets to 15-30 with some brilliant play. Nadal had lured him in with a drop shot but Fritz's return kissed the base line and Nadal could only return it to the net as Fritz was waiting to smash it down the middle. Fritz soon has two break points and Nadal double faults! The Spaniard looks to the ground in frustration. Fritz has the chance to hold serve for the opening set.
Rafael Nadal 3-4 *Taylor Fritz
Nadal's volleying has been faultless so far, he hits another winner to get to 15-15. He then goes old school, a whipped forehand right down the line to win the next point. He does the same again and earns break point but Fritz cancels that out with a huge serve out wide. The 11th seed keeps his composure to hold.
*Rafael Nadal 3-3 Taylor Fritz
A chance for Fritz as two errors from Nadal get him to 0-30. The American unleashes a fierce forehand to the back left that Nadal can't return and earns himself three break points. Fritz hits long to miss the first one and the second goes begging as Nadal hits a two-handed backhand down the line he had no chance of getting. Nadal's level after a big serve Fritz can't return. He gets a fourth break point and takes it! Nadal came to the net but Fritz read him and placed his forehand shot beyond him.
Rafael Nadal 3-2 *Taylor Fritz
Ruthless from Nadal as he hits a cushioned volley and then a forehand winner down the line to get to 0-30. Fritz wins the next three points though from winners of his own and gets fortunate with the ball hitting the top of the net on the final point.
*Rafael Nadal 3-1 Taylor Fritz
Nadal hasn't got out of first gear yet and is looking extremely relaxed on his serve. One of the longest rallies of the match so far ends with Nadal putting a forehand long, 30-15. Nadal hammers home a double handed back hand from the net at the next point. He comes to the net again, this time Fritz tries to lob him but it's not high enough and Nadal smashes it back down into the grass to hold.
Rafael Nadal 2-1 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz gets to 30-0 as Nadal struggles to return the serves. Nadal then hits an easy forehand into the net before Fritz misses a similar shot that goes wide, 40-15. Fritz gets on the board with an ace to seal it.
*Rafael Nadal 2-0 Taylor Fritz
Nadal begins his first service game with an ace. Two backhand errors from Fritz follow before Nadal puts a forehand just wide, 40-15. Another big serve forces Fritz to return long.
Rafael Nadal 1-0 *Taylor Fritz
Nadal takes the opening point on Fritz's serve with a backhand winner down the line to get the crowd going. Fritz hits his first ace of the match to level. Nadal soon finds himself with an early break point as Fritz fires one into the net and he takes it, an overhead smash at the net to give the Spaniard the perfect start.
3pm: Both players enter the court just as Centre Court is starting to fill up again nicely. Plenty of excitement building and after a short warmup we'll be ready to go here.
2.45pm: Halep did not want to keep Nadal and Fritz waiting! She's dispatched Anisimova 6-2 6-4 in little over an hour. The third men's quarterfinal comes next on Centre Court next.
2.25pm: Nadal and Fritz are the second match on Centre Court today and they follow the conclusion of Simona Halep vs. Amanda Anisimova in their quarterfinal. Halep took the first set 6-2 and is currently leading 3-1 in the second set.
2.15pm: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of today's third quarterfinal of the men's draw. Novak Djokovic scraped through to the semifinals in five sets yesterday where he'll face British No.1 Cameron Norrie. Nadal is bidding to keep his bid for a Calendar Grand Slam alive, and should he beat Fritz on Centre Court this afternoon, he'll play the winner of Nick Kyrgios vs. Cristian Garin. It's set to be a busy day at SW19!