Rafael Nadal conjured up a mesmerising five-set recovery from a potentially tournament-ending injury on Wednesday to reach an eighth Wimbledon semi-final.
Second seed Nadal, the 2008 and 2010 champion, saw off Taylor Fritz of the United States 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (10/4) in a gruelling match lasting four hours and 21 minutes, keeping his bid for a third Wimbledon title well and truly on track.
Spain's Rafael Nadal reacts after winning a point as he plays Taylor Fritz of the US in a men's singles quarterfinal match on day ten of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. (Photo: AP)
Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, suffered from an abdominal problem that forced him to take a medical timeout in the middle of the second set.
He said in his post-match press conference that he was unsure over his ongoing participation in the tournament as he targets the rare calendar Grand Slam.
Next up for Nadal is a showdown with Australian Nick Kyrgios, if things go well with the 36-year-old Spaniard.
Earlier, Kyrgios reached his first Grand Slam semi-final by claiming a 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (7/5) win over Cristian Garin of Chile.
Australia's Nick Kyrgios reacts during a men's singles quarterfinal match against Chile's Cristian Garin on day ten of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. (Photo: Weibo account of Wimbledon Championships)
Nadal, 36, leads his series with Kyrgios 6-3, including avenging his 2014 loss in a stormy clash at Wimbledon in 2019.
Top seed Novak Djokovic plays British ninth seed Cameron Norrie in Friday's other semi-final.
On the women's court, 2019 champion Simona Halep and Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina set up a clash for a place in the final.
Romanian 16th seed Halep reached her third semi-final at the All England Club without too much trouble as she sealed a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Amanda Anisimova of the United States.
Romania's Simona Halep reacts after beating Amanda Anisimova of the US in a women's singles quarterfinal match on day ten of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. (Photo: AP)
Halep has yet to drop a set at this year's tournament as she targets a third major title, having also won the 2018 French Open.
Russian-born Rybakina became the first player representing Kazakhstan to reach a Grand Slam semi-final when she defeated Ajla Tomljanovic of Australia 4-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Kazakhstan's Elena Rybakina returns the ball to Australia's Ajla Tomljanovic during a women's singles quarterfinal match on day ten of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. (Photo: Weibo account of Wimbledon Championships)
Tunisia's Ons Jabeur, ranked second in the world, will take on unseeded German Tatjana Maria in Thursday's other semi-final.
In the women's doubles competition, China's top-ranked tennis veteran Zhang Shuai has reached the semi-final of Wimbledon for the first time in her career.
Chinese Zhang Shuai (L) and Belgian Elise Mertens during their women's doubles clash against Andreja Klepa and Alexa Guarachi on day ten of the Wimbledon tennis championships in London, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. (Photo: Weibo account of Wimbledon Championships)
The 33-year-old and Belgian partner Elise Mertens continued their dominant run after outclassing seventh-seeded Slovenian Andreja Klepac and Chilean Alexa Guarachi 6-3, 6-2 in the quarterfinal.
(With input from AFP)
