22-time grand slam champ, Rafael Nadal, has withdrawn from Wimbledon with injury, sending Nick Kyrgios to his first-ever grand slam final.
Nadal, who has won both the Australian and French Opens this year, suffered an abdominal injury during his semi-final victory over America’s Taylor Fritz in the English tournament yesterday.
“I knew something was not okay there. It’s confirmed I have a tear in the muscle in the abdomen… I can’t risk being out of the sport for two to three months,” a disappointed Nadal said.
“If I keep going the injury will get worse and worse – I feel very sad to say that”
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 7, 2022
Come back stronger, @RafaelNadal 💪#Wimbledon pic.twitter.com/5yeQ3myiux
The 36-year-old’s withdrawal has advanced Kyrgios to the Sunday night final against either World No. 3 Novak Djokovic or World No. 12 Cameron Norrie, where he will look to be the first Australian man to lift the Wimbledon trophy since Lleyton Hewitt in 2002.
World No.40 Kyrgios is now the ninth Australian man to progress to a Wimbledon final in the Open era and the first since Mark Philippoussis in 2003, who was also unseeded.
Earlier this morning, the 27-year-old took to his Instagram wishing Nadal a speedy recovery, writing: “different players, different personalities. @rafaelnadal I hope your recovery goes well and we all hope to see you healthy soon. till next time…”
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