While Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios enjoys a day off following Rafa Nadal’s withdrawal, Novak Djokovic will look to continue his Wimbledon juggernaut against home hopes Cameron Norrie in the only semi-final men on Friday†
Kyrgios, 27, will be given four days of rest before playing his first major final against Djokovic or Norrie after his semi-final opponent Nadal had to withdraw on Thursday due to a stomach injury.
Djokovic, a 20-time major winner, has not lost a game on the manicured lawns of the All England Club since he retired mid-game with a injury in the 2017 quarter-final against Czech Tomas Berdych.
A win over Great Britain’s ninth seed Norrie would put 35-year-old Djokovic in an unprecedented 32nd men’s Grand Slam final and keep his shot at a fourth consecutive and seventh overall title at Wimbledon.
Picking up the trophy again, Djokovic will also be close to closest rival and 22-time grand winner Nadal on the Grand Slam tally.
But to get that chance, he must beat Norrie and a partisan Center Court crowd with the left-handed bidder to become the first home finalist since Andy Murray won his second Wimbledon title in 2016.
Djokovic lost just three games to Norrie when the duo faced each other in their only group stage meeting of the ATP Finals last year.
“We played in … only one encounter we had,” said the top-seeded Serb. “Obviously, different circumstances, different tournament(s) environment than what it would be playing here at Wimbledon at Center Court, semi-finals of a slam in his country. I know what to expect… in terms of public support.
“Again, there is not much for him to lose. Any win from now on is a big problem for him. I know that. But I have practiced a few times. I know his game well. He has been there. Of course I will do your homework and get ready.”
Meanwhile, Nadal said he was very sad to withdraw from the tournament due to a torn abdominal muscle.
It is the first time since 1931 that a man has withdrawn from the oldest Grand Slam tournament for a semi-final or final.
“I made my decision because I don’t think I can win two games under these circumstances,” Nadal said at a press conference at the All England Club. “I can’t serve. It’s not just that I can’t serve at the right speed, it’s that I can’t do the normal movement to serve.”
Nadal said trying to stay competitive could make the injury worse.
The only other time in his career that Nadal gave an opponent a walkover by withdrawing from a pre-match Grand Slam tournament was at the 2016 French Open, when he withdrew from the third round due to a injured left wrist.
The 40th seeded Kyrgios, a 27-year-old from Australia, advanced to his first major tournament title match, becoming the first unseeded men’s finalist at Wimbledon since Mark Philippoussis, who lost to Roger Federer in 2003.
“Hope your recovery is speedy and we hope to see you all healthy soon,” Kyrgios wrote in an Instagram post addressed to Nadal.
What is it?
It is the third major of the year. The Wimbledon Championships runs between Monday 27 June and Sunday 10 July.
When are the Wimbledon finals?
The final of the women’s singles will take place on Saturday 9 July, as will the final of the men’s doubles.
The finals of the men’s singles and women’s doubles will take place on Sunday 10 July.
The mixed doubles final will take place earlier in the week, on Thursday 7 July.
Can I still buy tickets?
Naturally. You’ve heard of the Wimbledon queue, right? You can go to Wimbledon Park and wait patiently for a small number of available tickets for Center Court, Court One or Court Two. However, you have to queue from about 6am, if not earlier, to be lucky.
If you can’t make it to the show courts, you can also buy a day pass which gives you access to all ground courts from Nos 3 to 18. Prices start from £27. The All England Club only accepts cash on the day.
On which TV channel are the championships?
You can cover the whole two weeks on BBC One and Two – and hit the red button. You can also follow Telegraph Sport’s daily coverage.
What’s this year’s draw?
The official draw took place on June 24.
Who are the defending champions?
Novak Djokovic and Ashleigh Barty won the singles tournaments in 2021 – but Barty won’t return to defend her crown after he unexpectedly stopped playing tennis earlier this year†