Highlights:
- Spanish stalwart Rafael Nadal reaches quarterfinal at Wimbledon 2022 after defeating Netherlands’ Botic van de Zandschulp.
- Nadal will be up against American Taylor Fritz, the 11th seed to make way into the semis on Friday.
Rafael Nadal, the second seed, advanced one step closer to achieving the uncommon calendar-year Grand Slam on Monday by advancing to the Wimbledon quarterfinals with a convincing 6-4 6-2 7-6(6) victory over Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.
Though the Spaniard won 22 of his major championships at All England Club, the place has not been very rewarding for him. However, this year was the first time in his career that he bagged the Australian and French Opens consecutively.
He will compete against American Taylor Fritz, the 11th seed, to advance to Friday’s semi-finals. The lone American still alive in the Wimbledon 2022 quarterfinals is Taylor Fritz. The 11th-seeded Fritz advanced to the round of eight in a Grand Slam for the first time after defeating qualifier Jason Kubler.
After not competing at Wimbledon for three years, Nadal commented, “It’s unbelievable for me to be in the quarterfinals here.” “So happy, so happy.”
“Overall, it was a successful game against a challenging opponent. A really good player, in my opinion.
Prior to each match at Roland Garros, Nadal received painkilling injections. He only announced his participation at the All England Club after radio frequency therapy reduced foot pain.
The Rafael Nadal-Botic van de Zandschulp match at Wimbledon 2022 progressed without a hitch until it was time to wrap things up. Nadal was serving for the victory at 5-3 in the third set when he was broken for the second time in the match. He then missed three consecutive match points in the ensuing tiebreaker despite being up 6-3.
The Dutchman’s resistance came to an end at that point, though, as Nadal won 6-4, 6-2, 7-6 (6) on Centre Court after converting his fourth match chance.
Rafa rolls into the quarter-finals ?
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 4, 2022
The Spaniard secures a straight sets victory over Botic van de Zandschulp 6-4, 6-2, 7-6(6)#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 | @RafaelNadal pic.twitter.com/Sq0SovkdoB
The Spaniard is competing in his first grass-court competition since 2019 when he was defeated by Roger Federer at Wimbledon.
After winning the Australian Open and French Open to raise his career total to a record 22 major titles, he is vying for his third Wimbledon victory and has a shot at completing a calendar-year Grand Slam. The lone remaining American in the draw, 11th-seeded Taylor Fritz, will be his next opponent.
The quarterfinals of Wimbledon will feature an American man thanks to Fritz. The 11th-seeded Fritz ended that streak by defeating qualifier Jason Kubler 6-3, 6-1, 6-4 to advance to the last eight of a Grand Slam for the first time after three of his countrymen fell in the fourth round.
Nick Kyrgios, meanwhile, has advanced to the Wimbledon quarterfinals for the first time since making his debut in 2014 after bringing his All England Club record in five-set matches to 6-0.
To defeat American Brandon Nakashima, 20, on Centre Court, Kyrgios overcame a sore shoulder and a fourth-set slump. The score was 4-6, 6-4, 7-6 (2), 3-6, 6-2. Throughout the match, the Australian had treatment for his right shoulder numerous times, and in the fourth set, he was broken twice in a row.
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However, he jumped out to a 5-1 lead in the fifth and used a forehand volley to score on his first match chance.
Kyrgios finished the tournament with 35 aces despite having a sore shoulder. In contrast to his previous encounter against Stefanos Tsitsipas, where he frequently quarrelled loudly with the chair umpire and was accused by his rival of lacking respect, the Australian displayed little in the way of antics or disagreements.
In the opening round, Kyrgios also defeated Paul Jubb in five sets. Cristian Garin of Chile, who defeated Alex de Minaur after falling behind by two sets, will be his next opponent. This will be Cristian’s first Grand Slam quarterfinal.