AFP, London :
Rafael Nadal pulled out of Wimbledon with an abdominal injury on Thursday after Ons Jabeur became the first African woman to reach a Grand Slam singles final in modern times.
Nadal’s decision-which hands a place in the men’s final to Australian maverick Nick Kyrgios-ends his dreams of a completing a rare calendar-year Grand Slam.
Two-time champion Nadal was visibly in pain during his gruelling five-set win against American Taylor Fritz on Wednesday and indicated afterwards that he may not be able to continue.
Spanish sports daily Marca reported that Nadal had a “seven-millimetre” tear to his abdomen but still intended to play.
But the 36-year-old scheduled a press conference on Thursday evening at the All England Club at which he confirmed he was pulling out.
“Unfortunately, as you can imagine, I am here because I have to pull out from the tournament,” said the 2008 and 2010 winner.
“As everyone saw yesterday I have been suffering with a pain in the abdominal and something was not OK there. That is confirmed, I have a tear in the muscle.”
Earlier, Jabeur defeated close friend Tatjana Maria in the semi-finals and will play Elena Rybakina in Saturday’s championship match.
The 27-year-old world number two from Tunisia triumphed 6-2, 3-6, 6-1 while Russian-born Rybakina, representing Kazakhstan, knocked out 2019 champion Simona Halep 6-3, 6-3.
“I’m a proud Tunisian woman standing here,” said Jabeur, who was the first Arab player to make a Slam semi-final.
Before Thursday, South Africans Irene Bowder Peacock, at the 1927 French Open, and Renee Schuurman, in the 1959 Australian Open, were the only African women to have reached a Slam singles final, before the Open era.
“I know in Tunisia they are going crazy right now,” said Jabeur.
“I want to see more Arab and African players on the tour. I love the game and I want to share the experience with them.”
Rybakina overpowered Halep, breaking the Romanian four times in a dominant display on Centre Court.
