- Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon 2022 during a semi-final match against Nick Kyrgios
- Kyrgios received a walkover into his first-ever Grand Slam final
- He will face off Novak Djokovic in Wimbledon’s finals on Sunday
Rafael Nadal withdrew from Wimbledon 2022 during a semi-final match against Nick Kyrgios.
He suffered an abdomen tear which he picked when playing against American tennis star Taylor Fritz. The injury worsened when Nadal took on Kyrgios in a bid to secure his 23rd Grand Slam.
Nadal while speaking to the press on Friday said that he cannot win two Grand Slams with such an injury. He bagged his 22nd Grand Slam in the French Open.
“I made my decision because I believe that I cannot win two matches under these circumstances. I can’t serve at the right speed; I can’t do normal movements,” he said.
“I can’t imagine myself winning two matches like this, and for respect for myself in a way, I don’t want to go out there and not be competitive enough to play at the level I need to play at to achieve my goal.”
Rafael Nadal at Wimbledon 2022. Photo/ATP Tour
Nadal thanked each member of his staff for their assistance over the past two weeks. He then flew back to Spain on Friday.
Kyrgios received a walkover into his first-ever Grand Slam final as a result of Nadal’s retirement. He will face Novak Djokovic in the finals at the Centre Court on Sunday.
This will be Kyrgios’ maiden match in a Grand Slam event. But even as he participates in his first Grand Slam finals, his former coach Joshua Eagle says he cannot be coached by anyone.
Eagle is of the opinion that the only person who can be of assistance to Kyrgios in his development is himself.
Eagle remarked that working with the tennis player is trying at times. He speaks from a point of information from his previous experiences with the player.
During a chat with Eurosport, Eagle stated, that every day is a different day with Kyrgios. It’s impossible to predict what he will turn to in a moment.
Eagle says there are moments of he is a great genius, and then other times he is a complete and utter disappointment. But that’s why people come to watch him because he’s ‘a box of chocolates’.
Rafael Nadal. Photo/Sky Sports
He adds that with the Australian, you can never be sure what it is that you are going to obtain. Nevertheless, Eagle is delighted to see him playing at his full potential because he’s one of the best talents that the game ever had.
Getting to the finals at Wimbledon 2022, Eagle feels Kyrgios put all his ability into the game and it’s a good thing.
He adds that no one is capable of deciphering what the player is thinking. He follows the rhythm of his own drum in whatever he does and his actions come from his feelings at the time.
He focuses more on the goals he has set for himself. Eagle made the observation that Kyrgios is currently in the best physical shape of his whole life and appears to have prepared himself to win Wimbledon 2022 Grand Slam.
He believes that Kyrgios will have a chance to win over the support of Australian fans in particular on Sunday’s championship match. But, this will only come to be if he demonstrates the characteristics that Australians normally admire in their athletes.
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