Wimbledon: 'I don't deserve to be in the semis' - Taylor Fritz 'not looking for handouts' after Rafael Nadal withdrawal
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Updated 08/07/2022 at 08:25 GMT
Fritz was beaten in the quarter-finals by an injured Nadal, who has subsequently been forced to withdraw from the tournament with an abdominal injury. Nadal had been due to face Nick Kyrgios in the last four, with the Australian now earning a walkover through to his first Grand Slam final. Fritz has now quashed the suggestion that he should face Kyrgios instead.
'Risky, dangerous' - Corretja understands Nadal's decision to withdraw from Wimbeldon
Taylor Fritz has batted away suggestions that he should face Nick Kyrgios in the Wimbledon semi-finals after Rafael Nadal's withdrawal, emphasising that he "doesn't deserve" a last-four place.
Nadal was forced to pull out of his encounter with Kyrgios due to an abdominal injury, handing the Australian a walkover through to his first Grand Slam singles final.
The Spaniard had been clearly hampered by the injury during his quarter-final against Fritz, appearing close to a retirement early in the match, but battled through in five sets.
His subsequent withdrawal has prompted Fritz fans, however, to suggest that the beaten American takes Nadal's place in the last-four.
But Fritz is clear that his defeat to Nadal renders him undeserving of such a reprieve.
Having thanked his supporters for their support during the tournament on social media, the 24-year-old responded directly to one commenter who suggested he "go forward" and face Kyrgios.
"Nah, [I'm] not looking for handouts," Fritz wrote.
"If I couldn't beat him [Nadal] then I don't deserve to be in the semis...simple as that."
A Wimbledon quarter-final was the deepest into a Grand Slam that Fritz has advanced in his career.
After Nadal's withdrawal, Kyrgios will be able to rest ahead of a final against the winner of the semi-final between Novak Djokovic and Cameron Norrie.
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'Risky, dangerous' - Corretja understands Nadal's decision to withdraw from Wimbeldon
According to Eurosport's Alex Corretja, Nadal's decision to pull out is "a pity", but the only choice that the 22-time Grand Slam winner could make.
“It’s a pity, yes, but honestly, it was expected," Corretja explained of his compatriot's withdrawal. "I know that [Nadal] fought so hard to beat Taylor Fritz, but today he tried and he realised that he had no chance to compete at the highest level, to beat Kyrgios and most likely [Novak] Djokovic or [Cameron] Norrie in the final.
"For him to play on two days in these circumstances, it was going to be very difficult. I know it’s difficult for him to make the decision, but I think it’s a smart decision because if you can’t play at your top level, it’s going to be almost impossible to win the Slam.
"I believe the most important thing for him now is to recover and take time off because if you get a tough injury, like three or four months again, away from the tournaments it will be devastating for his mind and for his goals for the year.
"We always support Rafa - especially now - and it’s a shame. If he knew that he wouldn’t be able to play the semi-final, I’m sure he would have retired. But he didn’t, and he thought that he might have a chance.”
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Watch daily highlights from Wimbledon at 10pm on Eurosport 2 and discovery+ from June 27, as well as the two singles finals live on July 9 and 10.
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