LONDON: Rafael Nadal said his mysterious foot injury will not prevent him chasing an 11th Grand Slam title at Wimbledon after he advanced to a semifinal showdown with Andy Murray.
Nadal eased into the last four with a 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Mardy Fish Wednesday, but later revealed that he had been given a painkilling injection in his foot to help him through the quarterfinal tie.
The Spanish world number one and top seed had needed lengthy medical treatment to his left foot during Monday’s fourth-round battle with Juan Martin Del Potro, but a subsequent MRI scan revealed no serious damage.
“My foot is not fine. But I’m in the quarterfinals and I had to play, and I’m going to do it for the semi-finals, too. I’m not worried about my foot,” Nadal said.
Looking ahead, Nadal is relishing the prospect of locking horns with Murray on Friday, whom he has beaten in his two previous matches at Wimbledon.