RAFAEL NADAL in action on Centre Court RIGHT NOW against American No 1 Taylor Fritz, and they've reached a TIE-BREAK decider.
Though the Spanish icon had to go for a medical time-out off the court as he chases a calendar Grand Slam.
And the winner will play Nick Kyrgios in the semi-final on Friday.
Kyrgios defeated Chile star Cristian Garrin in straight sets on No 1 Court.
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- Joshua Jones
The Calendar Slam is STILL on
That's right.
Somehow.
It is STILL on.
That is 19 wins out of 19 in majors this year for Nadal.
- Joshua Jones
That was absolutely incredible
Rafael Nadal simply refuses to give up.
What a fighter, what a heart, what a champion.
He keeps on roaring!
- Joshua Jones
Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 7-6 (10-4) Fritz
GAME, SET AND MATCH, RAFAEL NADAL!
The Calendar Grand Slam is still on!
A forehand whipped away wins it for Rafa!
Wow!
- Joshua Jones
Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 (9-4) Fritz
The first is saved as Nadal's return sails long…
Now Rafa to serve…
- Joshua Jones
Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 (9-3) Fritz*
Nadal goes long! He gives back two of those three mini-breaks he had worked up. 5-2.
Huge serve from the No11 seed. 5-3 Nadal.
Fritz backhand well wide after a Rafa slice on the baseline. 6-3 Nadal.
What. A. Rally. Longest of the match at 25 shots ends with Fritz on the floor by the net and Nadal volleying easily into the empty court. Staggering stuff. 7-3 Nadal.
Serve catches the line and Fritz mishits into the ground. 8-3 Nadal…
Stunning backhand winner up the line.
9-3… Six match points…
- Joshua Jones
Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 (5-1) Fritz
Mini-break Rafa as Fritz sends a flying volley just out – great effort but it's out.
Nadal takes full advantage by going up to 3-0, even having to produce the goods as Fritz got up from a slip to keep the ball in play.
Ooooh…. Fritz knows that's a painful one – he chases down a drop shot but dumps the reply in the net.
Fritz nets. 5-0 with a TRIPLE mini-break.
Fritz gets one back – after Rafa was disturbed by someone in the crowd – when he comes in and puts a volley away.
They change ends at 5-1.
- Joshua Jones
Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 Fritz*
Nadal swats away the opening point. 15-0.
Then Fritz goes long for 30-0.
Expert serving from Rafa – bringing his forehand into play as Fritz cannot keep it in. 40-0.
Service winner. Game.
We will have a championship tie-break to ten…
- Joshua Jones
Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 5-6 Fritz
How are the nerves?
This is gripping stuff.
Return long.
Fritz nails a forehand up the line for a clean winner.
Rafa forces Fritz long.
Fritz puts a forehand away.
Ace. Game.
- Joshua Jones
Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 5-5 Fritz*
Nadal puts away a clutch volley but then nets a forehand on the run as the clock hits the four-hour mark.
Service winner.
Service winner.
Oh my word.
Centre Court erupts again – Rafa playing with the lines and after a slightly framed smash before another drop volley is simply too good.
- Joshua Jones
Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-5 Fritz
Big hitting from Taylor Fritz.
He races into a 30-0 lead with some huge groundstokes…
But then he misses a couple of tight forehands and is pegged back to 30-30…
Oooh Fritz that is so good – he finds a very cute angle to make it 40-30.
Nadal finds the baseline and then executes a perfect backhand drop shot.
Fritz catches the line with an easy backhand as he puts it back behind Rafa – that was closer than it needed to be.
A backhand winner and Fritz leads.
Rafa to serve to stay in it…
- Joshua Jones
Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-4 Fritz*
FRITZ BREAKS BACK!
Fritz is frustrated with himself on the first point but then gets a boost when Rafa nets a drop shot.
OH WHAT A SHOT!
Fritz goes on the offensive – he knows he has to – and pulls off a staggering half-volley angled backhand drop shot which even Nadal cannot reach.
And then Nadal gets a drop shot wrong and Fritz pounces, forcing Rafa wide.
30-40…
And Fritz gets it!
- Joshua Jones
Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-3 Fritz
Nadal doesn't put a smash away but Fritz sends the stretching lob long…
And then he cannot get a short ball back into court.
0-30…
Oh Rafa – he sends a routine forehand long.
That was a chance…
But he does get two break points when Fritz nets a backhand volley.
That's a shocker!
First one… saved by a big T-serve at 129mph.
Second… second serve… NO WAY! Fritz's backhand slaps the let cord… and drops over!
He has both hands up in apology – but inside he will be dancing!
So good from Nadal – he toys with Fritz and nails an overhead then tucks away a drop volley under pressure.
Break point No3… saved by a big serve and simple forehand.
Fritz gets himself in front but rushes at a forehand into the net…
Deuce again…
Big serve. Wasted backhand long from Fritz.
Another bruising rally ends with Fritz netting…. another break point…
AND RAFA GETS IT!
A monster forehand has Fritz on the run and the backhand drop half-volley seals the break!
- Joshua Jones
Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 3-3 Fritz*
Maybe the luck is on Rafa's side?!
A forehand slaps the tape and jumps just over into Fritz's half.
Fritz, who delivered a sweet drop shot, gambles on which way Rafa will out his short forehand at 30-15… and chooses wrong.
But then it is Rafa's time to get it wrong – putting one long and then a big forehand just wide.
Deuce…
A forehand long from Fritz.
A forehand nets from Fritz.
- Joshua Jones
Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 2-3 Fritz
Whoops! At 30-0, Fritz bangs down a big serve…
Nadal swings his left arm for a forehand, but just completely misses the ball!
Another love hold – Fritz has only dropped one point on serve in this deciding set so far.
- Joshua Jones
Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 2-2 Fritz*
Excellent tennis from Rafael Nadal.
He rips a regular rally backhand in a way most people could only dream of hitting their best backhand ever.
- Joshua Jones
Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 1-2 Fritz
Another hold for Fritz.
He knows he can keep on the psychological pressure by keeping his nose in front on the scoreboard.
- Joshua Jones
Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 1-1 Fritz*
What a rally. Down 0-15, Nadal knows he needs the second point – and doesn't he just know how to deliver the goods… a divine drop shot has Fritz scrambling.
Oh that is staggering again – Fritz peppers the Rafa backhand but Nadal fights back and rips a forehand up the line which Fritz cannot get back.
- Joshua Jones
Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 0-1 Fritz
Perfect start to this fifth set for Fritz.
He races through a love hold, sealing the game as Nadal nets a backhand return.
- Joshua Jones
We are going the distance again
And we are heading into a decider!
Nadal holds with ease – no pressure whatsoever!
The Spaniard plants a forehand winner on the line!
Centre Court – including David Beckham – erupts!
- Joshua Jones
Rafa breaks!
Nadal held for 5-5 no problem…
And then worked up a break point on the Fritz serve.
The American sent a backhand long, confirmed by a challenge.
- Joshua Jones
Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 4-5 Fritz
Taylor holds on… just.
Fritz just about got through that service game.
He was down break point and got into a lengthy rally before eventually finding a superb forehand winner that kissed the line.
Nadal will serve to stay in Wimbledon 2022…
- Joshua Jones
Plans for tonight
Kyrgios said: "There's a lot to be done, go back, dad will cook us dinner as always, we'll eat it and just chill out."
- Joshua Jones
'Never put that burden on someone!'
Kyrgios added: "I don't have a coach I would never put that burden on someone!
"Each and every one of my team plays a very important role.
"No one knows my tennis more than I do, I've been playing this sport since I was seven and I'm very happy.
"I felt I was playing on the back foot a lot. Garin's a hell of a player.
"I got lucky on a couple of break points so I'll take that and will prepare for my next match."
- Joshua Jones
Nick enjoyed that one
Kyrgios said: "An amazing atmosphere again. 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 window in my career.
"I'm really happy I was able to come out here with my team and put on a performance."
- Joshua Jones
Fritz breaks back
Nadal was looking relatively good (all things considered) and was serving at 4-3 fourth set.
But his American opponent is suddenly back on level terms when he gets the break back.
Fritz is two games away at 4-4…
And at 40-30 on his own serve, Nadal produces a blistering banana forehand up the line. Sensational.
Trademark Rafa.
Can he get the immediately break back?
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