Report: Rafa Nadal Has a 7mm Abdominal Tear That He Will Try To Play Through In Tomorrow's Semifinal Match Against Nick Kyrgios

Adam Davy - PA Images. Getty Images.

Rafael Nadal is a 36 year old lunatic. For the better part of this year he's been playing on a foot so numb with painkillers it would make Brett Favre proud. Now on top of that foot injury, he's got a 7mm abdominal tear to cope with. I'm no sports doctor, but you gotta imagine with the amount of torque you need to hit a tennis shot, having a tear in your abdomen is less than ideal. Being a normal human being with an abdomen tear has to suck balls. Trying to compete on a championship level in a pro sport? No chance for a mere mortal. Rafa isn't one of those however. 

In his previous match against Fritz when it really started to slow him down, Rafa's father and sister motioned for him to quit, but Nadal said afterwards he hates retiring mid-match so he kept going. 

He gutted that one out and went on to prevail against the American in 5 epic sets because he's a legend. Friday's challenge will be much harder with an in-form, locked in Nick Kyrgios waiting for him. Nick currently sits as a -152 favorite on the Barstool Sportsbook which should tell you everything you need to know about Rafa's injury and the way the Aussie is playing. With this injury becoming public I'm expecting that number to climb closer to -200. 

It is a shame because these two really were set for a war on the grass. Hey maybe they still are, you never underestimate Nadal's toughness. Practice seemed to go fine today, although I don't believe they did much serving which has to hurt the most with the injury. 

Little background between the two, back in 2014, Nick's "welcome to the world" moment came in the 4th round when he upset the Spaniard. 

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Nadal evened the score in 2019, a match Nick apparently had to be dragged out of a pub beforehand at 4am. He was out of shape and didn't give a shit about tennis, but still managed to win a set. 

Hopefully Rafa is at least able to give it a go on Friday, but if he can't I think we'd all be pretty understanding. My bet is he plays because he's a psychopath.