Wimbledon 2022

First topic message reminder :

Serena Williams has been granted a wildcard and will play

Fritz takes the opener 6-3. Fritz won 4 games in a row from 2-3 down

So much for my prediction, as Fritz takes the first set 6-3 despite being an early break down.

Nadal looks cooked here - seems like he’s done a stomach muscle

Jeff Navarro wrote:Nadal looks cooked here - seems like he’s done a stomach muscle

I'm sure he'll struggle through another debilitating injury to miraculously win. Oh look he's won the second set.

Soul Requiem wrote:

Jeff Navarro wrote:Nadal looks cooked here - seems like he’s done a stomach muscle

I'm sure he'll struggle through another debilitating injury to win.

Might be an upset stomach tbh

Nadal takes the second set 7-5. Fritz drops a set for this first time this tournament

Seing how things are right now, I think the best option for Nadal is to lose today and hope for Kyrgios to pass also. Maybe Fritz or Kyrgios could stop Djokovic... not likey but for sure better chance than Nadal beating Djokovic

naxroy wrote:Seing how things are right now, I think the best option for Nadal is to lose today and hope for Kyrgios to pass also. Maybe Fritz or Kyrgios could stop Djokovic... not likey but for sure better chance than Nadal beating Djokovic

Kyrgios serving 80% first serves can threaten Djokovic.
Fritz is average and would get demolished

Fritz takes the third set 6-3

Nadal breaks at the beginning of the fourth set. 1-0

Fritz breaks back 1-1

Nadal breaks again 2-1

Nick Kygrios beats Cristian Garin 6-4 6-3 7-6 to reach first major semifinal

Nadal holds 3-1 a lot of drop shots by the Spaniard

Fritz holds to love 2-3

Nadal holds 4-2

Fritz holds 3-4

Fritz breaks back 4-4

Fritz saves BP and holds serve 5-4

Nadal holds 5-5

Nadal breaks 6-5

Nadal takes fourth set 7-5

Final set shootout

Fritz and Nadal both hold opening service games set 5. 1-1

Fritz holds 2-1

Nadal holds to love 2-2

Fritz holds to love 3-2

Nadal holds after going to deuce 3-3

Fritz doesn't seem to have any weapons. Can't see him ever winning a slam.

Nadal breaks 4-3 after a marathon game

Fritz BH not up to the job. As I write he hits a really good one!

Fritz breaks back for 4-4.

Fritz breaks back 4-4

Fritz holds 5-4

Nadal holds 5-5

Fritz holds 6-5

Nadal holds to love 6-6
Champions tie break

Fritz gifts his first point to Nadal

Gifts another point. Oh dear. 4-0

Nadal 5-1 at the swap of ends

Nadal 6-3

Nadal 7-3 after an insane 25 shot rally

Nadal 8-3

Nadal 9-3

GSM to Rafa. Really, Fritz should have won but with a suspect BH to which Rafa was peppering, it was not going to happen.

Rafael Nadal wins 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 7-6. How Nadal won that I’ll never know.
Taylor Fritz will rue a massive opportunity he let pass him by.

The *cough* severely injured *cough* Rafa Nadal with another miraculous win.

Gutsy stuff from Rafa but, as JN says above, a match that Fritz will rue.

I was disappointed with the American. The BH looked suspect. Yes, he did hit one or two good ones, but Rafa was looking to go there almost every point and invariably it was the right decision.

I think if Fritz is 14 in the world then he's over-ranked. IMHO he is not in the same class as Alcaraz or Sinner either of whom, I think, would have beaten Nadal today.

So what of a Rafa-Kyrgios semi? There's no doubt Nick has the game to win, but has he the temperament and will he be patient enough with Rafa's delaying tactics?

sirfredperry wrote:... Alcaraz or Sinner either of whom, I think, would have beaten Nadal today.

It is then fortunate for Nadal that he beat Sinner in the previous round. Apparently Nadal had some sort of stomach problem today. Not sure if it was indigestion or a pulled muscle or something else.

sirfredperry wrote: So what of a Rafa-Kyrgios semi? There's no doubt Nick has the game to win, but has he the temperament and will he be patient enough with Rafa's delaying tactics?

Kyrgios seems to get easily frustrated nowadays but he has been playing good tennis.

NNB - I take your point about Rafa beating Sinner in the previous round.

What I was trying to say - and forgive my lack of clarity - was that Rafa was only half-firing with his serve and some of his ground strokes for much of today's match and that ON TODAY'S SHOWING would have lost to Sinner.

I’ll take what Sir Fred says and take it further.
Djokovic would’ve pummelled Nadal today.
Sinner, Alcaraz, Medvedev, Rublev, Zverev etc all would’ve beaten Nadal.

Fritz just didn’t have the belief. He was hoping Nadal would make errors and gift him the win.
Nadal was there for the taking today, in set 2 and 3 Nadal was serving between 90-105mph. Any competent returner would’ve had a field day.