Why putting a lucky loser in a Wimbledon semi-final would be bad for tennis | Simon Cambers


Rafael Nadal’s withdrawal through injury is sad for him and us, but even Taylor Fritz agrees there is no place for ‘handouts’

When Rafael Nadal announced on Thursday evening he would not be able to play Friday’s semi-final against Nick Kyrgios because of injury, it prompted a variety of feelings, from sadness for Nadal himself to disappointment that Wimbledon fans will be denied a great showpiece semi-final.

Nadal’s withdrawal because of an abdominal tear means Kyrgios gets a free pass through to his first grand slam singles final, giving him an extra couple of days of recovery before he plays either the six-time champion Novak Djokovic or Britain’s Cameron Norrie for the title.

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