Rafael Nadal is now just two matches away from winning a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam title and third at Wimbledon. He will have to defeat the red-hot Nick Kyrgios in the semi-final, and either defending champion Novak Djokovic or home favourite Cam Norrie in Sunday’s final, if his body allows him to do so after suffering an abdominal injury in his quarter final clash with Taylor Fritz.
But back in 2010, in pursuit of his second championship at the All England Club, Nadal received a rare invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to have lunch. He had been invited to spend time with Her Majesty during her visit to Wimbledon, her first since 1977.
Despite being offered the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, Nadal decided he did want to jeopardise his pre-match routine before a second-round clash with Dutch star Robin Haase. He was concerned that he may not be left with an adequate amount of time to prepare for the clash — which was scheduled as the last match of the day — if he met the monarch.
At the time, Nadal said: "It was disappointing for me but the Wimbledon club knows I have my routines before the match. I knew it was going to be a very difficult match. I had to practice around then, so it was impossible for me [to meet the Queen]. I have my routines. Before the match, it is very difficult when you don't know when you're going to play. You have the third match but if some injury happens there, you are on court before. I had to practice at that time, so it was impossible for me to meet her at that moment."
Nadal had hoped the Queen would stay to watch his match, but she left shortly after Andy Murray emerged victorious. "Seriously, I thought the Queen was going to be at my match and I would love to have the chance to meet her after the match,” he said. “But it wasn't possible because I think the Queen left before. For me it was disappointing. I was excited to meet her but it was a very important match for me too." The sacrifice was worth it as Nadal needed five sets to see off Hasse, who lit up the centre court with his blistering groundstrokes which proved tough for the Spaniard to handle at times.
After prevailing 5-7, 6-2, 3-6, 6-0, 6-3, Philipp Petzschner also took the tennis legend the distance in the very next round, but Nadal managed to see him off 6-4, 4-6, 6-7(5), 6-2, 6-3. It was more straightforward from that point on, as Nadal dispatched Murray in straight sets in the last four, before seeing off Tomas Berdych in the final to lift the Wimbledon trophy aloft once again.
Yesterday kept his hopes alive of doing it again by booking a semi-final place after defeating Fritz in a five-set thriller 3-6, 7-5, 3–6, 7-5, 7-6. Nadal’s fitness woes were apparent in Wednesday’s win, as his family urged the Spaniard to give up as he battled through the pain barrier.
In typical Nadal fashion though, the 36-year-old powered on to victory but faces a race against time to be fit for Friday’s match with Kyrgios. Asked if it was possible to recover for the semi-final, the 22-time Grand Slam champion responded: “I don’t know. I’m going to have some more tests.
“It is difficult to know. I am used to having things and I am used to having pain and playing with problems. Let’s see. It’s obvious that this is nothing new. I had these feelings for a couple of days.”
