Wimbledon 2022 final – Novak Djokovic vs Nick Kyrgios LIVE RESULT: Centre Court ERUPTS as Serbian star RETAINS crown

Friday fun 

So we now know the four semi-finalists for this year’s Wimbledon. 

On the top half, it is top-seed and four-time defending champion against Britain’s Cameron Norrie - who is in his first Major semi. 

And on the bottom we have the blockbuster showdown between Rafael Nadal, eyeing a staggering 23rd Grand Slam, and Nick Kyrgios. 

Both of those matches will take place on Centre Court on Friday afternoon. 

Wimbledon will announce the order of play tomorrow but it is likely to be Kyrgios vs Nadal at 1:30pm followed by Djokovic vs Norrie to maximise the Friday evening UK BBC audience. 

But is he going to be fit?

Nadal continued: “Well, I hope to be ready to play it. That is the first thing.

“Then Nick is a great player in all the surfaces, especially here on grass, he is having a great grass-court season.

“It is going to be a big challenge, I need to be at my 100 per cent to keep having chances. That is what I will try to do.”

Not ab-solutely fine

Nadal added: "Well, the body is generally fine. Of course in the abdominal something is nothing going well being honest.

“I had to find a way to serve a little bit differently.

"For a lot of moments I was thinking maybe I could not be able to finish the match

“The court, the energy, it was something else – so thanks for that."

At least he still enjoyed it

Nadal said: “I honestly enjoy a lot playing these kind of matches. It was obviously that it was a tough afternoon against a great player.

“All the credit to Taylor that he is playing great during the whole season.

“For my personal side, it was not an easy match at all. I am very happy to be in the semi-finals."

'Rafa finds a way'

Laura Robson has had her say on that truly remarkable match.

She told the BBC: "Where do you start? What a win that was. We were so sure he was going to stop but as Rafa does he finds a way through.

"It is hard to imagine the match against Kyrgios being any more dramatic than this one.

"I feel for Taylor Fritz, he looks absolutely devastated. He will learn so much from this loss."

Up next? Only Nick Kyrgios

Rafa's reward for that epic win is...

A semi-final against long-term rival Nick Kyrgios.

These two have history - especially here at Wimbledon!

But will Rafa be ready physically?

The Calendar Slam is STILL on

That's right.

Somehow.

It is STILL on.

That is 19 wins out of 19 in majors this year for Nadal.

That was absolutely incredible

Rafael Nadal simply refuses to give up.

What a fighter, what a heart, what a champion.

He keeps on roaring!

Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 7-6 (10-4) Fritz

GAME, SET AND MATCH, RAFAEL NADAL!

The Calendar Grand Slam is still on!

A forehand whipped away wins it for Rafa!

Wow!

Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 (9-4) Fritz

The first is saved as Nadal's return sails long...

Now Rafa to serve...

Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 (9-3) Fritz*

Nadal goes long! He gives back two of those three mini-breaks he had worked up. 5-2.

Huge serve from the No11 seed. 5-3 Nadal.

Fritz backhand well wide after a Rafa slice on the baseline. 6-3 Nadal.

What. A. Rally. Longest of the match at 25 shots ends with Fritz on the floor by the net and Nadal volleying easily into the empty court. Staggering stuff. 7-3 Nadal.

Serve catches the line and Fritz mishits into the ground. 8-3 Nadal...

Stunning backhand winner up the line.

9-3... Six match points...

Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 (5-1) Fritz

Mini-break Rafa as Fritz sends a flying volley just out - great effort but it's out.

Nadal takes full advantage by going up to 3-0, even having to produce the goods as Fritz got up from a slip to keep the ball in play.

Ooooh.... Fritz knows that's a painful one - he chases down a drop shot but dumps the reply in the net.

Fritz nets. 5-0 with a TRIPLE mini-break.

Fritz gets one back - after Rafa was disturbed by someone in the crowd - when he comes in and puts a volley away.

They change ends at 5-1.

Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 6-6 Fritz*

Nadal swats away the opening point. 15-0.

Then Fritz goes long for 30-0.

Expert serving from Rafa - bringing his forehand into play as Fritz cannot keep it in. 40-0.

Service winner. Game.

We will have a championship tie-break to ten...

Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 5-6 Fritz

How are the nerves?

This is gripping stuff.

Return long.

Fritz nails a forehand up the line for a clean winner.

Rafa forces Fritz long.

Fritz puts a forehand away.

Ace. Game.

Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 5-5 Fritz*

Nadal puts away a clutch volley but then nets a forehand on the run as the clock hits the four-hour mark.

Service winner.

Service winner.

Oh my word.

Centre Court erupts again - Rafa playing with the lines and after a slightly framed smash before another drop volley is simply too good.

Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-5 Fritz

Big hitting from Taylor Fritz.

He races into a 30-0 lead with some huge groundstokes...

But then he misses a couple of tight forehands and is pegged back to 30-30...

Oooh Fritz that is so good - he finds a very cute angle to make it 40-30.

Nadal finds the baseline and then executes a perfect backhand drop shot.

Fritz catches the line with an easy backhand as he puts it back behind Rafa - that was closer than it needed to be.

A backhand winner and Fritz leads.

Rafa to serve to stay in it...

Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-4 Fritz*

FRITZ BREAKS BACK!

Fritz is frustrated with himself on the first point but then gets a boost when Rafa nets a drop shot.

OH WHAT A SHOT!

Fritz goes on the offensive - he knows he has to - and pulls off a staggering half-volley angled backhand drop shot which even Nadal cannot reach.

And then Nadal gets a drop shot wrong and Fritz pounces, forcing Rafa wide.

30-40...

And Fritz gets it!

Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 4-3 Fritz

Nadal doesn't put a smash away but Fritz sends the stretching lob long...

And then he cannot get a short ball back into court.

0-30...

Oh Rafa - he sends a routine forehand long.

That was a chance...

But he does get two break points when Fritz nets a backhand volley.

That's a shocker!

First one... saved by a big T-serve at 129mph.

Second... second serve... NO WAY! Fritz's backhand slaps the let cord... and drops over!

He has both hands up in apology - but inside he will be dancing!

So good from Nadal - he toys with Fritz and nails an overhead then tucks away a drop volley under pressure.

Break point No3... saved by a big serve and simple forehand.

Fritz gets himself in front but rushes at a forehand into the net...

Deuce again...

Big serve. Wasted backhand long from Fritz.

Another bruising rally ends with Fritz netting.... another break point...

AND RAFA GETS IT!

A monster forehand has Fritz on the run and the backhand drop half-volley seals the break!

Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 3-3 Fritz*

Maybe the luck is on Rafa's side?!

A forehand slaps the tape and jumps just over into Fritz's half.

Fritz, who delivered a sweet drop shot, gambles on which way Rafa will out his short forehand at 30-15... and chooses wrong.

But then it is Rafa's time to get it wrong - putting one long and then a big forehand just wide.

Deuce...

A forehand long from Fritz.

A forehand nets from Fritz.

Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 2-3 Fritz

Whoops! At 30-0, Fritz bangs down a big serve...

Nadal swings his left arm for a forehand, but just completely misses the ball!

Another love hold - Fritz has only dropped one point on serve in this deciding set so far.

Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 2-2 Fritz*

Excellent tennis from Rafael Nadal.

He rips a regular rally backhand in a way most people could only dream of hitting their best backhand ever.

Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 1-2 Fritz

Another hold for Fritz.

He knows he can keep on the psychological pressure by keeping his nose in front on the scoreboard.

Nadal 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 1-1 Fritz*

What a rally. Down 0-15, Nadal knows he needs the second point - and doesn't he just know how to deliver the goods... a divine drop shot has Fritz scrambling.

Oh that is staggering again - Fritz peppers the Rafa backhand but Nadal fights back and rips a forehand up the line which Fritz cannot get back.

Nadal* 3-6 7-5 3-6 7-5 0-1 Fritz

Perfect start to this fifth set for Fritz.

He races through a love hold, sealing the game as Nadal nets a backhand return.

We are going the distance again

And we are heading into a decider!

Nadal holds with ease - no pressure whatsoever!

The Spaniard plants a forehand winner on the line!

Centre Court - including David Beckham - erupts!