Rafael Nadal has battled through injury and the most gruelling, five-set examination from big-serving American Taylor Fritz to set up a mouth-watering Wimbledon semi-final with Nick Kyrgios.
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The great Spaniard, who twice found himself a set down on centre court and needed treatment for an abdomen problem in the second set, proved unbreakable in spirit, finally taming the 11th seed in a super-tiebreak decider on Wednesday to win 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 7-6 (10-4).
Clearly in pain and requiring treatment in the second set, the 36-year-old feared he might have to retire but he then responded as only a 22-time grand slam champion can, playing every point as if it were his last as he fought back to one set all.
More than halfway to winning all four grand slam titles in a single year, Nadal found the spirit to keep battling after he also went two sets to one down and proved indefatigable as he eventually prevailed after four hours, 21 minutes.
He seemed to have finally taken command when he broke the 24-year-old's delivery to go 4-3 up in the final set.
But Fritz, who defeated Nadal to win his first Masters title earlier in the year at Indian Wells, hit straight back to ensure the match went all the way into a decisive first-to-10-points tiebreak.
And 14 years from the day that he beat Roger Federer in a match enshrined as Wimbledon's greatest, Nadal once again seemed to summon some superlative tennis when he needed it most.
Asked how he'd managed to win, he shrugged: "Well, I don't know.
"Personally for me it was not an easy match at all so it is great to be in the semi-finals.
"The body (in) general is fine, but in the abdominal something is not going well, being honest.
"I had to find a way to serve a little bit different. For a lot of moments I was thinking I would not be able to finish the match but the crowd, the energy, thanks for that."
When asked on court about the Kyrgios match, there was a chorus of pantomime boos when the Australian's name was mentioned but an unsmiling Nadal said: "First thing, I hope to be ready to play ...
"Nick is a great player, but specially here on grass - it's going to be a big challenge. I'm going to have to be at 100 per cent."
Australian Associated Press
