Spain's Rafael Nadal changes his shirt during his match against Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, Monday, June 27, 2011. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
The defending champion hurt his foot in the 12th game of the first set and needed a lengthy medical time-out before returning to the court and beating Del Potro 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4.
“I felt terrible,” Nadal said. “I felt (like) I broke my foot at that moment.”
The injury happened when the top-ranked Spaniard had a set point with Del Potro serving at 6-5. The Spaniard went for a forehand, which he missed, and then pulled up awkwardly and tapped his racket against his left foot, signaling that something was wrong.
“I felt something that like crushed there in the back of the foot outside,” Nadal said. “I seriously didn’t know, at that moment (in) the match, I didn’t know if I will have the chance to continue playing.”
After losing the game, he called for a medical time-out — drawing a complaint from Del Potro, who questioned the chair umpire whether that was allowed before the tiebreaker. Nadal took off his shoe and sock and rubbed his foot, before explaining to the trainer what was wrong.
“At set point I felt something,” Nadal said. “This is new. For me, it’s very strong, very painful.”
He limped visibly after every point at the start of the tiebreaker, falling behind 3-0 before winning four straight points. He eventually clinched the set when Del Potro double-faulted on set point.
He left the court for more treatment after the set, before coming running back onto the court with his shirt off, drawing huge cheers from the Centre Court crowd.
After the match, Nadal said he would likely have an MRI on Tuesday to determine the full extent of the injury. He is set to face Mardy Fish in the quarterfinals on Wednesday.
Argentina's Juan Martin Del Potro is helped up by a trainer after falling during his match against Spain's Rafael Nadal at the All England Lawn Tennis Championships at Wimbledon, Monday. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth)
“And I’m worried, for sure,” Nadal said. “I’m going to do the MRI. We’ll see what’s going on. Tomorrow we will see. I cannot predict the future.”
Del Potro had his own injury scare, slipping and falling to the grass at 2-2 in the third set. He remained on the ground, clutching his left hip and then left the court for treatment. But he returned within minutes, and didn’t look hampered by the injury the rest of the way.
Despite both players struggling with ailments, they combined to provide one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament so far. Del Potro, the former U.S. Open champion who missed much of last year after having surgery, continually pressured Nadal with his powerful forehand and strong serve, often attacking the net. Nadal countered with his trademark habit of chasing down balls at both ends of the court, and beat the Argentine with a number of spectacular passing shots.
The point immediately before Del Potro’s injury was perhaps the most entertaining of the match.
After chasing Nadal around the court, Del Potro hit a forehand volley into the right corner that looked sure to be a winner. But the Spaniard somehow managed to reach it and flicked a perfect forehand lob over the tall Argentine. Del Potro, in turn, chased the ball down and — with his back still to the net — flicked his own forehand lob back toward Nadal, sending it so high up into the air it would have almost hit the Centre Court’s retractable roof, had it been closed. Nadal calmly waited several seconds for the ball to bounce before deciding the point with an easy smash.
That exchange brought the crowd to its feet and even left Del Potro clapping his hand against his racket over his head in salute to Nadal.
“I am very happy to be through, winning against one of the best players of the world,” Nadal said. “I think (it) was a fantastic match. Was a very good level of tennis tonight.”