Rafael Nadal Injury: Champion's price drifts but he'll play on

Wimbledon Betting / Jamie "The Pacman" Pacheco / 28 June 2011 / 2

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Playing through the pain barrier. Rafael Nadal played some breathtaking tennis against Del Potro despite being injured.

"Concerns over Nadal’s fitness have seen the odds on Roger Federer (2.8) and his likely semi-final opponent Andy Murray (6.0) come in, though Novak Djokovic’s price (4.5) hasn’t really shifted at all."

Rafael Nadal suffered an injury in yesterday's superb win over Juan Martin Del Potro and the Betfair market reacted accordingly. But the defending champion has confirmed he'll be fit to face Mardy Fish in the next round.

The 'Big Four' of Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray are all through to the quarter-final stage of Wimbledon but the winner market today looks somewhat different to the way it did before yesterday's action.

Rafael Nadal played some of the most scintillating tennis of the tournament so far when beating Juan Martin Del Potro in four sets, but it may have come at a cost. Towards the end of the first set, with the score at 6-5, Nadal required treatment on his foot, which was thought to be a result of damage to his bone.

The Umpire controversially allowed Nadal to get the doctor on court and a tie-break soon followed, which he won, despite trailing 3-0 early on. He lost the second set 3-6 but rallied back to win the next two 7-6 and 6-4 in what was the highest quality match of the tournament so far.

At one stage a retirement looked on the cards and he drifted to [13.0] in the winner market.

Last night Nadal said: I don't know what the problem is, I will get it checked out. I'm worried for sure.

"At one moment at the end of the first set I thought I might have to retire.
"To hit my forehand was very tough. I felt something really strange when it was at 6-5 in the first set when I called to the trainer. I pushed hard with a forehand and I just felt something crush in the back of the foot. I didn't know what went on."

This morning the Betfair market still had him as big as [5.0], after he traded as low as [2.72] towards the start of the tournament, but the latest news is that the injury isn't as bad as first thought and he confirmed on Facebook this lunchtime that he's fine to face big-serving American Mardy Fish in the quarters. He's currently trading at [4.2].

Concerns over Nadal's fitness have seen the odds on Roger Federer ([2.8]) and his likely semi-final opponent Andy Murray ([6.0]) come in, though Novak Djokovic's price ([4.5]) hasn't really shifted at all.

Assuming Nadal does recover, a repeat of the French Open scenario, where the top four seeds met at the semi-final stage, is beginning to look ever more likely. This despite the fact there may be some split loyalties in the Murray camp when he faces tricky Spanish lefty Feliciano Lopez.

Murray's mother Judy has nicknamed him "Deliciano" Lopez on her Twitter page after admitting she has a soft spot for the Davis Cup winner, who served superbly when beating Andy Roddick in straight sets before demonstrating huge resilience yesterday in coming from two sets down to beat Lukasz Kubot. Murray is the [1.12] favourite to win.

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B Miller | 28 June 2011

Once again Nadal pulls an injury out of the bag just when he's on the ropes.

How many more times is he going to get away
with this detestable behaviour. Someone should wise up,it's happened before & will doubtless keep on happening.

Amazing how he managed to carry on & complete the match.
DelpoFan | 28 June 2011

Nadal's medical time out lasted more than 8 minutes. Players are only allowed 3 minutes. The umpire shouldn't have allowed it.