Nadal into semi final but will he be fit to play Kyrgios after five set thriller against Fritz?

By Paul Lagan on Centre Court, Wimbledon

Taylor Fritz v Rafael Nadal

6-3, 5-7, 6-3, 5-7, 6-7

Rafa Nadal rolled back the years, pushed his injured body to the limit and proved that with an iron will, anything is possible and that’s why he is a multi slam winner.

He had to dig deep into his resolve and belief to overcome a fit, fresh Taylor Fritz on Centre Court this evening  – the winner would face Nick Kyrgios in the semi-final at Wimbledon, and after  four hours and 21 minutes of scintillating tennis, the Spaniard prevailed in a five-set marathon 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6

A jaded Nadal said afterwards: “I honestly enjoy this kind of match. It was a tough afternoon and all the credit to Taylor, he played very well.

It was not an easy match. I’m just happy to be in the semi-final.

“The body in general is fine but not going well in the abdominal area. I had to serve differently. I felt that I might not finish the match at times.”

He then cast doubt on if he will turn up to the semi on Friday.

He said: “I hope to be ready to play Nick, he is a great player on grass.

It will be a big challenge.”

Drama unfolded in the first set of this quarter-final as second seed Rafa Nadal capitulated to number 11 seed, Taylor Fritz from the US.

Nadal who is wearing a protective starch bandage to hold his stressed abdomen in place, was not in his usual aggressive, mobile state and as a result, too many unforced errors led to the American to take advantage of that by trying to keep the rallies long and placing the ball at tight angles or producing deft drop shots which tested the fitness of The Spaniard.

The first set went to Fritz 6-3.

The second set saw Nadal, still playing slightly ponderously struggled to hold his serve. He faced a break point and saved it by producing a marvellous cross-court forearm drive that wrong-footed Fritz, and then he produced a drive beyond the grasp of the American. But a miss-hit shot which would have hit the roof had it been closed saw the game back to deuce.

His experience eventually saw him hold to make it 4-3.

The 11th game at 5-5 gave the crowd something to jump up and down about and cheer as Nadal produced some vintage winners ranging from top-spin lobs to power passes down the line.

 But the injury demon, just won’t go away and Nadal lost his nerve in the third game of the third set quite tamely. Take nothing away from Fritz who is playing to his full potential and knows that a hurt Nadal can be beaten.

He held his serve to take it to 3-1.

It continued to go with serve meaning that at 3-5, Nadal had to hold his to save the third set.

Sadly for him, he went 15-40 down before sending  a cross-court shot wide of the tram line to give the American the game and third set.

A break apiece greeted the Centre Court crowd who were delighted that Nadal made the early one, but a little dismayed when he lost his after being 40-love up.

But the American choked when it came to his serve, and he promptly lost it, desperately challenging an out call when at break point. He knew it was out but hoped nevertheless.

Nadal produced a couple of high-risk drop shots to keep him in the game, and at 30-30 produced a double fault to give Fritz break point.

Another wonderful successful drop shot brought the game to deuce, which was incredibly followed up by another – four in a game – brilliant risk play by Nadal which then forced Fritz into an long shot to give Nadal a 3-1 lead in the fourth.

Fritz finally held his serve too.

Nadal soon found himself facing a break point to 30. And then he gave it all away by over hitting a straightforward forehand drive to level it up at 4-4.

Fritz went 40–30, before Nadal whizzed a winner down the line to deuce.

He followed that up by forcing Fritz to go long. But he responded with a wonderful deep drive that had Nadal grasping at air.

A long return by Nadal followed by a shot to the net gave Fritz the game and meant Nadal was serving to stay in the Championships.

He lost a point, won a point, won a point, won a point to go 40-30 up, before serving an ace to win the game and take it to 5-5.

The jeopardy and drama were increasing by the point.

Fritz then lost two points in a row on his serve.

Nadal then hit his net and then shot wide to level it up at 30-30. The crowd we’re definitely on his side now, they wanted a fifth set. Fritz sent an easy line drive wide to set up another break point.

Then after a succession of clipped under hit returns, Fritz hit the ball long. Again he challenged the out call more out of frustration than a sense of injustice 

Hawkeye did its job and Nadal went 6-5 up.

A nicked net cord by Nadal on his serve flummoxed Fritz and he sent the ball wide. Then he sent the ball long to give Nadal a 30 love lead – an ace set up set point – and just like that it was over and the fourth set went to Nadal.

The first five games of the final set went with serve, no sense of jeopardy at all.

But suddenly Nadal’s serve was under pressure as it went to deuce. He survived just as Fritz drive went centimetres long before a tense rally saw the American smash the ball into the net.

The roles were reversed in the next game as Fritz choked on a simple winner by putting the ball in the net. He responded with a winner to make it 30-40 before gaining the point with an net cord which seemed to take ages to drop into Nadal’s side to bring it to deuce. A sensational rally ended with a terrific smash by Nadal to give yet another set point.

Fritz responded with a bit of serve and volley to save the game.

A simple return by Nadal hit the net to give advantage to Fritz.

A choke again by Fritz served up another deuce, which Fritz made light work of.

Soon, it was yet another break point. And what a winner by Nadal – a sensational drop shot that Fritz almost got to.

Nadal’s service game was equally enthralling with Fritz taking a 15-30 lead with a wonderful ball that drifted over the net, it wasn’t a drop shot but a caressed drive.

Fritz then set up a break point of his own. Which he duly won.

Yet another drop shot by Nadal at 40-30, brought Fritz’s serve to deuce.

Then a backhand right on the line gave him advantage  before he whipped the ball past Nadal for  a winner and game to leave Nadal serving to stay in the tournament.

Nadal won the first point, Fritz the second, a fine serve by Nadal made it 30-15, then 40-14. An incredible sequence followed with a a seeming winner by Nadal put back in court before Nadal twice hit smashes, before casually placing the ball in Fritz’s court to win the game.

Fritz won his game with an ace.

Serving  first in the final set, has meant the Fritz had the advantage – Nadal needed to win his game to take it to a super tie-break.

And so it came to pass – a love game by Nadal set up the breaker where simply the first to 10 wins.

Nadal won the first point, then on his own serve to make it 2-0. And again to go 3-0 up.

A lovely dinked shot by Nadal could not be picked up by Fritz and Nadal went two mini-breaks up at 4-0. Nadal sensing victory then forced Fritz into hitting the ball into the net – it was now 5-0.

A nervous serve gave Fritz one serve back to make it 5-1. Then it was 5-2, then 5-3. But a missed drive down the line by Fritz made it 6-3 to Nadal, now on serve. Then another wonderful rally saw Nadal win the point to go 7-3 up. Then it was 8-3.

A clear winner by Nadal brought up match point at 9-3.

And after four hours and 20 minutes Fritz served and won to make it up 9-4. Nadal then had two serves to win. He needed just the one.

Top picture  – victory for Nadal on Centre Court Picture: Paul Lagan