Rafael Nadal, from Spain, returns the ball to Alexandr Dolgopolov, of Ukraine, at the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament in Key Biscayne, Fla., Tuesday, March 29, 2011. Nadal won 6-1, 6-2.(AP Photo/J Pat Carter) (AP2011)
Rafael Nadal's left foot appears to not be as seriously injured as first thought and he will play in Wednesdays's Wimbledon quarterfinals.
On Monday the tennis star hurt his left foot in the first set of Monday's fourth-round win over Juan Martin del Potro.
He twice called for a trainer during the set, but still managed to win 7-6 (6), 3-6, 7-6 (4), 6-4.
After the match, he went to a London hospital for an MRI exam, but the results were negative.
"During the match I thought I had something serious but as the match went through the pain got better and thankfully the tests don't show an injury," Nadal said Tuesday in a statement. "Today I will practice at 4:30 p.m. and I'll play tomorrow."
In Wednesday's quarterfinals, Nadal is to face Mardy Fish of the United States.
Nadal said he felt something "crush" in his left foot during the match against Del Potro, making him worry that it might be broken. He said he even contemplated retiring from the match.
"I felt (like) I broke my foot at that moment," Nadal said Monday.Nadal is 30-2 at Wimbledon since the start of the 2006 tournament.
He lost to Roger Federer that year and the next in the final, but then beat the Swiss in the 2008 championship match. Nadal was unable to defend his title in 2009 because of injury, but he won again in 2010.
The top-ranked player also won his sixth French Open title this month, equaling Bjorn Borg's record. Overall, Nadal has won 10 major titles, including one at the Australian Open and one at the U.S. Open.
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
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