Rafael Nadal overcame Taylor Fritz in a five-set thriller to set up a semifinal clash against Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon on Wednesday.
Nadal, who was dealing with an abdominal injury, beat Fritz 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6 (4) in the quarterfinals.
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Earlier in the day, Kyrgios reached his first Grand Slam semifinal when the controversial Australian defeated Cristian Garin of Chile 6-4, 6-3, 7-6 (5).
“I never thought I’d be in the semi-final of a Grand Slam. I thought that ship had sailed, that I may have wasted that little window in my career,” said Kyrgios.
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“I am really happy I was able to come out here with my team and able to put on a performance.”
Kyrgios, who shot to fame when he defeated Nadal at the tournament as a 144th-ranked wild card eight years ago, is the first Australian man into the semis at Wimbledon since Lleyton Hewitt in 2005.
Simona Halep back in semis
Former champion Simona Halep said she is playing her “best tennis” as she set up a Wimbledon semifinal clash with Kazakhstan’s Elena Rybakina on Wednesday.
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Halep, the 2019 winner, comfortably reached her third semi-final at the All England Club with a 6-2, 6-4 victory over Amanda Anisimova of the United States.
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.
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“Definitely this is my best tennis,” said Halep, who missed last year’s Wimbledon with a calf injury.
“I am trying to build my confidence back, and it’s good.”
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The Romanian 16th seed, who was also French Open champion in 2018, broke Anisimova’s serve four times in the match, wrapping up victory in just over an hour.
