RAFAEL NADAL was set to continue his bid for the Calendar Grand Slam against Nick Kyrgios today.
However, circumstances conspired against the 22-time slam winner and the match will now not take place.
Why isn't Rafael Nadal playing Nick Kyrgios today?
Rafael Nadal is not playing Nick Kyrgios because he was forced to pull out of Wimbledon due to injury.
Nadal picked up a tear in his abdomen during a quarter-final win over Taylor Fritz, but extraordinarily battled on to win in five sets.
However, in a press conference called on Thursday evening, he said: "I have tried a lot of times in my career to keep going but it is obvious the injury will get worse.
"Throughout the whole day I have been thinking about the decision to make.
"I think it doesn't make sense to play. I feel very sad to say that."
Will Rafael Nadal be replaced in the semi-final?
Rafael Nadal will NOT be replaced in the Wimbledon semi-final.
The All-England Club confirmed that opponent Taylor Fritz will not be reinstated after being knocked out of the competition.
Had Nadal withdrawn during the match, Fritz would have advanced to a semi-final with Nick Kyrgios.
However, Fritz confirmed that even if it was an option, he would not have wanted an unearned semi-final place after losing in the quarters.
He replied to a comment on Twitter suggesting he be reinstated, by saying: "Nah not looking for handouts.
"If I couldn’t beat him [Nadal] then I don’t deserve to be in the semis…simple as that."
What happens now?
As a result of Nadal's withdrawal, Nick Kyrgios has earned a BYE to his first ever grand slam final.
There, he will face the winner of Novak Djokovic vs Cameron Norrie.
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