The semifinals are now set for Wimbledon in 2022, and Nick Kyrgios of Canberra, Australia is in his first career semifinal of a men’s grand slam singles tournament. On Wednesday, Kyrgios defeated Cristian Garin of Chile 6-4, 6-3, 7-6.
The reason why Kyrgios is in the men’s final four came down to his serve. He had 17 aces compared to four double faults. Garin had two aces compared to five double faults.
Next up for Kyrgios in the semi-finals is the second seed, and 22-time grand slam champion Rafael Nadal of Spain. Nadal is going after the season grand slam after winning the 2022 Australian Open and the 2022 French Open. He previously won Wimbledon in 2008 and 2010. In the quarterfinals, Nadal defeated Taylor Fritz of the United States, the 11th seed, 3-6, 7-5, 3-6, 7-5, 7-6. Head-to-head, Nadal is 6-3 against Kyrgios. They have played twice against each other at Wimbledon. Kyrgios beat Nadal in the fourth round in 2014, 7-6, 5-7, 7-6, 6-3. Nadal beat Kyrgios in the second round of Wimbledon in 2019, 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 7-6.
In women’s action on Wednesday, history was made in the history of Kazakhstan tennis. For the first time ever Kazakhstan has a grand slam semifinalist. That is what happened after the 17th seed Elena Rybakina defeated Australia’s Ajla Tomljanovic, 4-6, 6-2, 6-3. This was the second straight year that Tomljanovic reached the Wimbledon quarterfinal. A year ago in the women’s quarterfinals, Tomljanovic lost 6-1, 6-3 to Ashleigh Barty of Australia.
Rybakina will now face Romania’s Simona Halep, the 2018 French Open champion and 2019 Wimbledon champion, in the semifinal. Halep, the 16th seed, beat Amanda Anisimova of the United States, the 2019 French Open semifinalist, 6-2, 6-4 in the other women’s quarterfinal on Thursday. Halep is 2-1 all-time against Rybakina. Halep beat Rybakina in the third round of last year’s United States Open, 7-6, 4-6, 6-3.
