Wimbledon quarter finals as they happened – Rafael Nadal edges Taylor Fritz after Halep and Kyrgios win

It’s pure know-how and fighting spirit that’s keeping Nadal in this right now. Will the treatment he had kick in or is this as good as it’ll get?

It makes it tough for Fritz to maintain concentration and Nadal comes up with a magical lob and a sublime low slice to somehow hold to 30.

A visibly struggling Nadal almost makes something special happen. A beast of a forehand and a low slice crank up the pressure at 30-30 but he can’t find the movement to brush a crosscourt backhand over the net. The No.2 seed then lashes a forehand long and the American No.1 levels.

The body isn’t moving so well but suddenly the forehand fires. Nadal blasts a couple of brilliant winners off his favoured wing to hang on with a hold to 15.

Fritz keeps the ball in court and Nadal can’t do much in response. He appears rather lame. It’s a love hold and Rafa really needs those painkillers to kick in ASAP if he’s to have any chance of avoiding a two-set deficit.

The Spaniard will continue for now...

Kyrgios backs up the break with an ace from deuce after Garin had threatened to break back.

The Spaniard has gone off court to receive treatment.

The fiery Aussie is firing! The world No.40 seems to be well on top now. He breaks again to take charge.

Nadal hangs on! Fritz out drop-shots the Spaniard to threaten again and then a tame forehand into the net offers up another break point. Nadal responds with a succession of forehand winners and just about nudges back in front.

Rafa is grimacing at the sit-down. H’s called for the physio and appears to have an issue around the stomach.

Garin avoids a disaster with some clutch work to fend off break point from deuce after Kyrgios had opened up Set 2 with a strong hold.

All square. Nadal eats away at a 40-0 scoreline with a series of superb returns. Fritz responds with an ace from deuce and the Spaniard undoes his hard work by shanking a second serve off court.

It’s déjà vu for Nadal. Once again he lets the early break slip away. The Spaniard opens with an ace but then slaps down a couple of double faults, with a howitzer of a backhand from Fritz sandwiched in-between.

Nadal saves one break point but then hooks a very tame, nervy forehand into the net.

You get the feeling this match is here for the taking for Fritz.

The powerhouse serves flow off Taylor’s racquet as he eases o0n to the board for the loss of one point.

The pressure tells! Garin can’t cope under the magnifying glass as Kyrgios breaks to love to take the opening set in 37 minutes.

Nick hustles at break point down and offers up a large slice of scoreboard pressure to Cristian with a hold from deuce.

Nadal looks in complete control at 40-0 but suddenly the game turns. Fritz forces an error with a succession of blistering forehands before Rafa inexplicably dumps a volley into the net. A cagey rally ensues with the American appearing to get on top until he opts for another drop shot that sails harmlessly into the net. Nadal consolidates but he’s looked very shaky since that blistering opening period of the match.

That was calamitous from Fritz. He slaps a backhand approach into the net and then slips with the next point on his racquet. He improvises to keep the ball alive but Rafa puts away a forehand pass to threaten at 15-30. From there Taylor implodes with an awful drop shot into the net and a wild forehand wide.

There have been plenty of close games but both players have hung on to serve as we enter the business end of the set.

There’s no doubt Fritz has got into Nadal’s head. The Mallorcan double faults again for 15-15 and is taking an age between service points. Taylor helps him out with a woeful backhand long and a couple of hefty serves are most welcome for the No.2 seed as he opens Set 2 on the front foot.