Nadal confirms tear in abdomen, hands Kyrgios bye for Wimbledon final

36-year-old Rafael Nadal announced in a Wimbledon press conference on July 7, 2022 confirming that a "seven-millimetre" tear to his abdomen during his quarterfinal against Taylor Fritz will force him out

Spain’s Rafael Nadal announced today that he is withdrawing from Wimbledon after failing to recover from an abdominal injury. | Photo Credit: AFP

Rafael Nadal announced Thursday that he was withdrawing from Wimbledon after failing to recover from an abdominal injury, ending his hopes of a calendar Grand Slam.

Semi-final opponent Nick Kyrgios will receive a walkover into Sunday's final, where he will play either top seed and six-time champion Novak Djokovic or Britain's Cameron Norrie.

Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, struggled with the injury in a gruelling five-set win against 11th-seeded American Taylor Fritz on Wednesday.

Spanish sports daily Marca reported on Thursday that Nadal has a "seven-millimetre" tear to his abdomen but had still intended to play.

But the 36-year-old scheduled a press conference at which he confirmed he was withdrawing.

"I have to pull out of the tournament. As everybody saw yesterday I have been suffering with the pain in the abdominal area," he said.

"I have a tear in the muscle."

Nadal, the second seed, was visibly in pain during his match with Fritz and was forced to take a medical time-out in the second set.

But he returned to the court and twice recovered from a set down to win 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7/6 (10/4) in four hours and 21 minutes.