Analysis: Nadal leaves Wimbledon hurt, like Federer in 2021
Associated PressWIMBLEDON, England — It was impossible not to think ahead, to what awaits Rafael Nadal, while watching him sigh as he discussed how “very sad” he was about pulling out of the Wimbledon semifinals because of a torn abdominal muscle. These two exceptional athletes, forever linked as rivals and greats of the game, might be at different stages of nearing the ends of their careers, but one can’t help but wonder whether Nadal’s recent difficulty staying healthy — he also missed time this season with a rib injury, and the second half of last season because of his foot — could affect how much he is willing to keep pushing his body. “I don’t think anyone’s able to fill those shoes, to be honest with you,” said Nick Kyrgios, the player who benefited from Nadal’s withdrawal and advanced to his first Grand Slam final. “It’s going to be a sad day,” Kyrgios said, “when they go.” Nadal was asked whether he made the right choice by continuing to play against Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals Wednesday, hanging in there for five full sets across nearly 4 1/2 hours, despite feeling so much pain from early in the first set. “But I can’t risk that match and stay two, three months outside of competition, because that’s going to be a tough thing for me.” He said he was not concerned at all with trying to pursue a calendar-year Grand Slam — going 4 for 4 at the sport’s four major championships — even though he captured the first two legs at the Australian Open and French Open for the first time in 2022.