Wimbledon - Nadal to play on after MRI scan
Rafael Nadal's MRI scan shows no serious damage and the world number one will practice later today at Wimbledon.
Nadal overcame injury problems and a tricky big-serving opponent to beat Juan Martin del Potro 7-6 3-6 7-6 6-4 and reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Monday, but not without real fitness concerns.
In a drama-filled contest that finished shortly after 21:00 UK time, both Nadal and Del Potro survived injury scares - Del Potro to his hip - to produce a high quality contest. 105 winners were struck to just 37 errors from both before Nadal prevailed in eight minutes shy of four hours.
The defending champion sustained a foot injury during the match which looked set to jeopardise his chances of winning a fourth Grand Slam title in the last four tournaments.
A lengthy delay at the end of the first set after Nadal suffered the injury caused big concerns over the top seed's prospects of further participation, but fears were partially allayed at his subsequent recovery to win in four sets.
Nadal underwent the MRI scan on Tuesday morning, with the results indicating that no significant damage had been caused and, as a result, will resume training as normal.
The world number one said after his victory: "I thought I'd have to retire. I felt something very strange.
"It seems like it's the bone, in the foot. The tape changed probably the position of the foot and the distribution of the power so I was able to continue with a bit of pain.
"I thought that I was never going to win the match when (the foot injury) happened at 6-5," he added.
"I am very happy to be through, winning against one of the best players of the world. I think it was a fantastic match with a very good level of tennis."
The 25-year-old set up a last eight meeting against American Mardy Fish, who he has beaten in all five previous meetings, with his 18th successive victory in SW19.
Nadal won the title for the first time back in 2008 with a win over Roger Federer and was forced to miss the 2009 edition through injury before returning victorious last year. He finished runner-up at the grass-court major in 2006 and 2007, losing out to Federer on both occasions.
Comment 196 - 215 of 215
i wont murray too win
this guy has won plenty give a brit a go
Dosh@ Read once more the tramliners statement about the ultimate test. I think you got it wrong. It was not the overcoming injury and continue playing, it was more like asking the medical brake in the wron time......
I think you Rafa fans have to understand that not all of the people here complaining about the medical time out are not the Rafa haters, but simply didn't like what he did at that moment. As I said, as Nole fan I didn't like when he was given in in 2009, and I critisized him for doing that. I guess he realised that even his fans are pised, that's why he changed, actually worked on his physical and health shape.
, and he managed.
Couple months ago I wrote here the story about Nadal doctor who worned his team to slow down, or his knees will be destroied. It wasn't me it was the doctor specialist.
His muscels are to havy for such dynamic movements, and he overforcing his knees by running as crazy to hit every ball.
Tony made the decision to take the risc and to play maxinmum. Most probably that will shorten his carier, and will cost all this medical time outs.
He is to heavy for the tennis player, Roger and Nole are the real tennis athlets.
What sad lives people must have to post the hate messages all night, it makes you wonder if they have anything else to do lonely people i guess.
akh nadal.. for years i was admiring you but not now. you damage your own reputation by doing so.
I think the injury free scan proves there was a bit of gamesmanship going on and fair play you don't become the world #1 by playing fair in one of the most ultra competitive sports. Something us English have never gotten our heads around. But yesterday's game did show that he isn't superman and this tournament is turning out into one of the best because OK I don't see any shocks other than the top 4 men reaching the semi-finals but who actually wins it out of that four is anyone's guess.
How furious are all the Rafa haters, and How happy are all the Rafa lovers!! to know that Rafa is back? Terrible news for some- understandably so; the threat is not gone, and a reason to celebrate for others like myself ofcourse. I'm relieved he will continue to play because as Tramlines says, he has passed his ultimate test; not only Del Potro, but beating him whilst injured. This, in my opinion, eclipses any challenge he has to face in this tournament. The only real challenge he has is his health..otherwise its game, set, match and tournament Mr. Nadal. I've said it..now watch it happen. There were some dirty tactics by Del Potro won't dwell on those. Vamos!
hey gardtman &shailesh do you both know that barca fans and team are all pu**ys and messi was a girl before he/she had a sex change well did you both know this ?
@c.gardtman : U are such a loser..... u just sit washin ur @s$. Thats better for u... Stop criticizing players.. U are not even 0.00001% of what nadal is... Just play with your lower small balls stuck to you body... Nadal, Fed, Del, Murray & Djoko are world class players... Respect every one of them & enjoy the matches...
Just an excuse in case Nadal looses.
But even injured i still think Nadal going to win it..
But like to see Andy win it to,being a Brit i all ways
follow my country players.
Jaja Ralph, cheers man, yes I do enjoy your usual condescending style...not
But I'm sure you're enjoying yourself and that's what's important...
Deep down though you know I'm right, because you're cunning like your idol.
Nadal does break down too often for a top athlete, a top athlete knows how to pace himself, just like a car has rev limiters. You know I'm right in my "little tirade", don't you?
But I'm not going to stoop as low as you and call you a joke, no, you're just a fanatic.
There seems to be enough Rafa moaners out there who need to get a grip with life. Never heard any one mention any thing about Murray when he injured his ankle at the french open, all you would hear from the English commentators was poor Andy, yet it seem to me he was moving freely and running down allot of the balls, on clay if you had a ankle injury like Murray wanted us to believe then he would not had been able to play the way he did. Also you Rafa moaners you are forgetting very quickly how Rafa injured him self at the Australian open yet he still played on even though you could see he was in pain, and after being beaten by Ferrer he never made excuses he said he was beaten by a better player on the day.
Rafa is a true champion and i have met Roger and he has only respect for Rafa, 2 great champions.
Go Rafa and Roger
enjoy your little tirade against nadal yannis, u never could resist a dig at him, just a shame its the same record every time and in the meantime he keeps on collecting slams, and your man what is he collecting these days, you are a joke man.
Who cares, if him and "Bumfluff Face" meet in the semis, then it's all over for wee Murray...
I'de compare federer to a classy car, lets say a mercedes. but when you go around europe (specially norway), mercedes is a car of choice for a taxi cab. fed is no GOAT and CLASSY seriously. lol
Kandy, well said:)
Nadal is the number 1 player in the world and some people even put him in the GOAT discussion. He's like the top supercar, say the Buggati Veiron. Imagine then buying the Veiron and everytime you push it to the limit, it breaks down! You talk to the manufacturer and they tell you, it's normal that it breaks down because of your style of driving... Would you be satisfied?? No, you'd say it's not such a great car afterall...
Same with Nadal, if in order to produce his top form he must break down and need a pit stop so often, then he's not such a great athlete after all. Sorry.
Ralph, I can say to you what I said to James: everything you wrote about Nadal's injuries (due to his extremely physical game) is right. You don't have to pay attention to the haters who insult him. But you can be so kind as to pay attention to something different. If we were talking about Gael Monfils and not Rafa it's enough to say the guy has this unusual yet attractive style that makes him prone to this or that, don't judge him because his eccentricity is not obstructive to anyone. When talking about Nadal things start getting a bit more complicated - an icon, a legend, a king and probably GOAT, that's heavy. All these superlatives put him in comparison with other greats and bring another type of criteria. The King's reputation is a matter of very special observance and judgement and the pretender should be up to it. He cannot just say that what worries a big part of the world is just nonsense. His admirers cannot just say our King simply has some issues that all of you have to accept in silence. Especially when these issues tend to show up again and again. It should be clear that injury breaks, true and not tactical ones, spoil the fair flow of the game. That's why Laver said: you go on court alone - no coaching, no any other help, tennis is a noble game and in order to prevent its clean high spirit one should participate if healthy and ready or don't go on court at all. It's a rule of knights - no doubt should be thrown over wins and defeats... but all the extended injury talk about Rafa throws different kind of doubts. Nadal lost because he was injured, Nadal won because he used tactical MTO, etc. Ok, the guy is prone to injuries, real injuries, but as I said he's not just a simple guy - he's a role model, he represents the game as whole, so a word of honor should be said and this would be at least: I'm aware that my injury issues cause discomfort to my opponents, I've no excuses, forgive this weakness of mi
Its a shame just as players on tour where starting to get to grips with nadal's moon ball brand of tennis, he has gone and added the MTO brand of tennis, poor souls.... there is only so much they can counter!
Heard that other players in the locker room are getting sick and tired of Nadal's whining about this injury, that injury and whatever else he can make an excuse for should he lose. I thought it was the height of arrogance for him to telephone the Queen's tournament director and apologise for losing to Tsonga because ... he was tired. Does he not realise how insulting this is to his opponent?
Nadal should part ways with uncle tony and his ugly antics if he does not want to dent his legacy. trust me even the media cant stand his MTO antics but choose to promote the gladiator like image of him to sell more papers and tickets. When he calls time on his career then the press will begin their autopsy on his tennis in general and they will be the ones to reveal to him why his tennis just couldnt match up to federer's despite the h2h. federer has never had MTO in his grand slam career, nadal's had 4 out of the last 5 grand slams!! i personally will pay top dollar to watch federer lose than pay to watch nadal win! You could even argue his win at all cost MTO brand of tennis has stopped his opponents from reaching their true potentials e.g petzchner wimbledon 2010, that could have been a break through win for petzchner!!
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