Rafael Nadal has pulled out of Friday’s Wimbledon semifinal against Nick Kyrgios with a torn abdominal muscle.
Kyrgios will now face either top-seeded Novak Djokovic or No. 9 Cameron Norrie in Sunday’s championship match.
“Unfortunately, as you can imagine, if I am here, it’s because I have to pull out from the tournament,” Nadal said during a news conference at the All England Club on Thursday.
Nadal practiced for around 45 minutes on Thursday, spending most of the time hitting forehands and backhands, and though he did practice some serves, they were at a vastly reduced speed.
Spanish newspaper Marca reported Thursday that Nadal has a 7-millimeter tear in one of his abdominal muscles but that he intended to play.
Nadal wore tape over part of his abdomen and required treatment, including painkillers, during his thrilling five-set victory over Taylor Fritz in the quarterfinals Wednesday.
Nadal, 36, was trying to win Wimbledon for the third time and the first time since 2010.
Victory would have given him a record 23rd Grand Slam title after winning the Australian Open and French Open earlier this year.
Information from ESPN’s D’Arcy Maine and Simon Cambers was used in this report.
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