Leg injury won't hinder me in semis: Nadal

Updated on: 01 July,2011 08:18 AM IST |
Agencies |

Leg injury won't hinder me in semi-final against Andy Murray, says world no 1

Leg injury won't hinder me in semi-final against Andy Murray, says world no 1

Nadal eased into the last four with a 6-3, 6-3, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Mardy Fish yesterday, but later revealed that he had been given a painkilling injection in his foot to help him through the quarter-final tie.

Spain's Rafael Nadal celebrates after beating USA's Mardy Fish in
Wednesday's Wimbledon quarter-final in London. PIC/Getty Images

The Spanish World No 1 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.

Yet Nadal said the foot was still causing him problems which were being treated with a local anaesthetic. "My foot is not fine. But we are in the quarter-finals of Wimbledon. It's an emergency, so I had to play," Nadal said.
Nadal said his medical team would put the injured foot "to sleep" for the remainder of the tournament. "It's the last tournament in one month, or in one month and a half, so I have to try my best. It's always for me a dream to play here in Wimbledon.

"I'm in the quarter-finals and I had to do it, and I'm going to do it for the semi-finals, too. When you put the foot to sleep you don't feel anything."

Forget the past
Nadal insists his straight-sets victory over Andy Murray in last year's Wimbledon semi-final will count for nothing. "The previous matches between us won't affect Friday's match," Nadal said.

"Every year is a different situation. Last year it was a very close match, even if I won in straight sets."

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