Rafael Nadal will hope he has an easier time of things than Novak Djokovic did yesterday when he takes on American Taylor Fritz for a place in the Wimbledon semifinals.
Djokovic had to come from two sets down to beat Jannik Sinner on Tuesday and Nadal will be hoping for a much smoother journey to the last four to keep his Calendar Grand Slam chances alive when he takes to Center Court this afternoon.
Fritz may have the slight psychological advantage though knowing he beat Nadal in straight sets the last time the pair met in March at Indian Wells, although Nadal was suffering with a rib injury on that occasion.
Unlike Nadal, who has gone four sets in two of his four matches at SW19 this year, 11th seed Fritz is yet to drop a set in his wins over Lorenzo Musetti, Alastair Gray, Alex Molcan and Jason Kubler.
The SportingNews will be live from Center Court to bring you all the game-by-game updates below.
Rafael Nadal vs. Taylor Fritz live score
| 1 | two | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rafael Nadal (2) | 3 | 3 | – | – | – |
| Taylor Fritz (11) | 6 | 3 | – | – | – |
Rafael Nadal vs. Taylor Fritz updates and highlights from Wimbledon 2022
All times BST
*denotes server
Rafael Nadal 3-6 3-3 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz uses the momentum from the break to get to 40-0 with a few big serves. Nadal reminds him what his forehand he possesses with a return winner down the line, 40-15. Fritz hits two more into the net, deuce. before serving an ace. Nadal then hits a wayward return wide and Fritz holds.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 3-2 Taylor Fritz
Fritz gets to 15-30 with a few aggressive forehands Nadal can’t return. Nadal then double faults to present Fritz with two break points. Fritz’s forehand wide costs him the first. Nadal goes big on a forehand at the next but it flies into the net and Fritz gets the break.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 3-1 *Taylor Fritz
Much better from Fritz as he’s patient in the rally to allow Nadal into making the mistakes and then serves up an ace, 40-0. Nadal hits a forehand into the net to give Fritz the hold.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 3-0 Taylor Fritz
Hard to tell if Nadal is just extremely focused or if something is bothering him but he’s not showing much emotion at all. He gets to 40-0 like a man in a rush with somewhere to be. Fritz gets two back, Nadal missing an easy volley at the net for the first time. Fritz then puts a backhand into the net.
Rafael Nadal 3-6 2-0 *Taylor Fritz
On the third point Fritz slips but still manages to hit a forehand from the floor! Nadal punishes him with a forehand winner, 15-30. Fritz makes a few silly mistakes and his last forehand of the game goes wide as Nadal gets an early break in this second set.
*Rafael Nadal 3-6 1-0 Taylor Fritz
Nadal has won his last two matches in straight sets but remember his opening two matches saw him win in four sets each. Nadal serves up another double fault, most unlike him, 15-15. He keeps his cool though to hold.
Advantage: @Taylor_Fritz97 🇺🇸
First set 6-3 to the American against Rafael Nadal#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/efs9n2a06w
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2022
Rafael Nadal 3-6 *Taylor Fritz – FRITZ WINS FIRST SET
A couple of big serves gets him to 30-0 and then he drills an ace. Three set points… he needs just one as he serves up another ace. What an impressive first set from the American.
*Rafael Nadal 3-5 Taylor Fritz
Fritz gets to 15-30 with some brilliant play. Nadal had lured him in with a drop shot but Fritz’s return kissed the base line and Nadal could only return it to the net as Fritz was waiting to smash it down the middle. Fritz soon has two break points and Nadal double faults! The Spaniard looks to the ground in frustration. Fritz has the chance to hold serve for the opening set.
Rafael Nadal 3-4 *Taylor Fritz
Nadal’s volleying has been faultless so far, he hits another winner to get to 15-15. He then goes old school, a whipped forehand right down the line to win the next point. He does the same again and earns break point but Fritz cancels that out with a huge serve out wide. The 11th seed keeps his composition to hold.
*Rafael Nadal 3-3 Taylor Fritz
A chance for Fritz as two errors from Nadal get him to 0-30. The American unleashes a fierce forehand to the back left that Nadal can’t return and earns himself three break points. Fritz hits long to miss the first one and the second goes begging as Nadal hits a two-handed backhand down the line he had no chance of getting. Nadal’s level after a big serve Fritz can’t return. He gets a fourth break point and takes it! Nadal came to the net but Fritz read him and placed his forehand shot beyond him.
Rafael Nadal 3-2 *Taylor Fritz
Ruthless from Nadal as he hits a cushioned volley and then a forehand winner down the line to get to 0-30. Fritz wins the next three points though from winners of his own and gets fortunate with the ball hitting the top of the net on the final point.
Center of care #Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/xlj0d2h1z7
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2022
*Rafael Nadal 3-1 Taylor Fritz
Nadal hasn’t got out of first gear yet and is looking extremely relaxed on his serve. One of the longest rallies of the match so far ends with Nadal putting a forehand long, 30-15. Nadal hammers home a double handed back hand from the net at the next point. He comes to the net again, this time Fritz tries to lob him but it’s not high enough and Nadal smashes it back down into the grass to hold.
Rafael Nadal 2-1 *Taylor Fritz
Fritz gets to 30-0 as Nadal struggles to return the serves. Nadal then hits an easy forehand into the net before Fritz misses a similar shot that goes wide, 40-15. Fritz gets on the board with an ace to seal it.
*Rafael Nadal 2-0 Taylor Fritz
Nadal begins his first service game with an ace. Two backhand errors from Fritz follow before Nadal puts a forehand just wide, 40-15. Another big serve forces Fritz to return long.
Rafael Nadal 1-0 *Taylor Fritz
Nadal takes the opening point on Fritz’s serve with a backhand winner down the line to get the crowd going. Fritz hits his first ace of the match to level. Nadal soon finds himself with an early break point as Fritz fires one into the net and he takes it, an overhead smash at the net to give the Spaniard the perfect start.
3pm: Both players enter the court just as Center Court is starting to fill up again nicely. Plenty of excitement building and after a short warmup we’ll be ready to go here.
Sporting royalty in the Royal Box ⚽️#Wimbledon | #CentreCourt100 pic.twitter.com/U47QhdofoT
— Wimbledon (@Wimbledon) July 6, 2022
2.45pm: Halep did not want to keep Nadal and Fritz waiting! She’s dispatched Anisimova 6-2 6-4 in little over an hour. The third men’s quarterfinal comes next on Center Court next.
2.25pm: Nadal and Fritz are the second match on Center Court today and they follow the conclusion of Simona Halep vs. Amanda Anisimova in their quarterfinal. Halep took the first set 6-2 and is currently leading 3-1 in the second set.
2.15pm: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News’ live coverage of today’s third quarterfinal of the men’s draw. Novak Djokovic scraped through to the semifinals in five sets yesterday where he’ll face British No.1 Cameron Norrie. Nadal is bidding to keep his bid for a Calendar Grand Slam alive, and should he beat Fritz on Center Court this afternoon, he’ll play the winner of Nick Kyrgios vs. Christian Garin. It’s set to be a busy day at SW19!
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George is Digismak’s reported cum editor with 13 years of experience in Journalism