Rafael Nadal, after the epic victory over Taylor Fritz: “There is something even more important than the victory at Wimbledon, health”

out of stock from an injury to the abdominal area that bothered him from the first set of the match and almost forced him to retire; without the power, mobility or tennis he usually displays on a court; but with that fighting spirit that is one of his trademarks, Rafael Nadal signed an epic victory – miraculous, one might say- to access the Wimbledon semi-finals. The Spaniard, second favorite of the English Grand Slam, has twice raised the disadvantage of a set (0-1 and 1-2) and defeated the American Taylor Fritz, 11th in the standings, in the fifth set tie break. He was 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5 and 7-6 (10-4) in a very tough battle of four hours and 20 minutes. But shortly after the triumph, he left his continuity in the race in the air.

“I don’t know, honestly. I can’t give a clear answer because I don’t know what’s going to happen. I’ll do more tests and see how it goes. Because there’s something even more important than winning Wimbledon, cheers,” he said honestly, when he did. they consulted on the possibilities of having to abandon the semi-final, in which he will face Australian Nick Kyrgios.

“I’m worried, of course, why I know the pain I felt on the track. Towards the end of the game, I was feeling a little better, because I found a way to serve that bothered me a little less. But I spent two really bad hours on the pitch “, continued the Spaniard, who is looking for his third title on English grass and 22nd in a” big “, to extend his all-time record.

“Even when I served weak, I hurt. Every time he made the gesture he gave me a whip. I pulled out and I was left with a lot of pain. I’m used to putting up with pain and problems. But when I feel something similar to what I have felt, it is because something is wrong with the abdomen. It is not so clear that this is something new. I’ve had this feeling for a couple of days. In the game, I felt a significant increase in pain and limitation, “she explained.

Nadal’s words were not exaggerated. In the match against Fritz, there were times when he was seen doubled over in pain or leaning against the canvas at the back of the pitch, as if he was regaining his strength to continue. His discomfort did not allow him to show the best version of him, it conditioned his game and forced him to ask the physiotherapist for attention twice. The first, when he was leading by 4-3 in the second set (Fritz had already taken the first) and had to go to the locker room to be treated. And the second, after giving up the third set.

It looked so bad that even her sister did Maria Isabella and his father, Sebastianpresent in your box, They made signs at him asking him to leave. But he didn’t listen to them.

“I started playing at my best level for a long time, but unfortunately, from 3-1, something started going wrong in my abs. From there, it was an exercise in accepting the problem and even if he really wanted to suffer the rest of the game, it was worth it.“He explained Rafa.

“The doctor came and gave me some anti-inflammatories. The physical therapist tried to relax the muscle a little bit, but it’s hard. You can’t fix anything when you have such a thing. The idea of ​​retiring for a long time. was in my head, but I didn’t, it’s easy to get out of Wimbledon, in the quarter-finals. It would have been difficult to retire in the middle of the game. It’s something I hate to do. I wanted to finish, win or lose, but I prefer to win. So I have I continued to fight. I am proud of him, of fighting spirit and of having remained competitive in these conditions, “he recounted a decision that did not surprise anyone.

Rafa, therefore, adapting to the circumstances, changed his game and his strategy. He started serving with less power, playing more standing up and trying to avoid the backhand as much as possible and play it with a slice when he couldn’t settle down to hit him with the drive. And with a lot of heart and dedication – and helped to some extent also by the holes that showed a rather irregular rival, who did not know how to take advantage of his moment – he found a way to win the game.

“This is probably the most painful loss of my career. When the game was over, I felt like crying. I’ve never heard of it. “commented Fritz, who had beaten Nadal in the Indian Wells final, one of three matches that the Spaniards have lost this year.

The American, who still signed his best historical performance in a Grand Slam, acknowledged: “When he was worse off, in the second set, I stopped being offensive. I let him get close to me. I saw that he didn’t move. well and that his serve had lost speed. But after the end of the second set I started to stop thinking like I was injured, because the points we were playing were from someone who is normal. ”

And he closed: “It’s hard to see anything positive now because, really, I wanted this win. My best options were in the three times it took me to stay in the game. I had to do more in those games. I didn’t hesitate or push“.

Nadal, beyond the clear concern for the injury that could force him to say goodbye to the tournament, acknowledged: “There are many positive things: my tennis level, my foot doesn’t hurt, it doesn’t limit me, but unfortunately that happens. I feel lucky, but I have little rest on a body level. When it’s not one thing, it’s another. ”

And, despite doubts about what will happen in the next few days, he left a sentence that moved: “I’m playing well, I enjoy it a lot. If we eliminate the problems, the level of tennis is magnificent.”