Nadal and Halep were among the many champions, including Roger Federer and last year’s winner Novak Djokovic, who stood on Center Court on Sunday (July 3) to mark their 100th anniversary.
A day later, they returned to the field to seal their respective progress in the semifinals.
2019 Wimbledon champion Halep defeated fourth seed Paula Badosa 6-1, 6-2, while Nadal defeated Botic van de Zandschlp 6-4 6-2 7-6 (8-6).
Only Serena Williams (14) and Venus Williams (13) have reached the Wimbledon semifinals more than Halep (five), the only female players still competing on the WTA Tour, who will face Amanda Anisimova in the last eight.
5 – Of the current female players, only Serena Williams (14) and Venus Williams (13) have reached the semifinals.
# Wimbledon
Compared to Simona
#halepWhole.wtapic.twitter.com/F9Fa4EQnct
– OptaAce (ptOptaAce)
July 4, 2022
Nadal, meanwhile, has now played 350 matches at the Grand Slam – only Federer and Djokovic have done well overall.
The 22-time Grand Slam winner was asked by Van de Zandschalp to work for a victory in the third set, but he made a shocking performance by winning his 18th major match in a row in 2022.
Asked about the honor of taking him to central court on Sunday, Nadal said, “It was a beautiful thing to share the court with our sports veterans yesterday.
“The Central Court has been very special for 100 years.”
Wimbledon Center Court completes 100 years, reminiscent of tennis players
Halep, who is trying to reach her first Grand Slam semi-final since the 2020 Australian Open and has yet to leave a single set at Wimbledon this year, expressed this sentiment.
“Of course I wanted to be today. I think I played a good match, ”she said. “I am just happy to be back at the Center Court with this huge crowd supporting me.
“I miss it so much, it’s been three years
[long
time], Yesterday I was on the court with all the champions and it was amazing. I was more nervous than I am today. “
Next to Nadal is Taylor Fritz, who defeated the Spaniard in the final of the Indian Wells Masters earlier this season.
2007 – Taylor
#fritz
The first American male player to reach the semifinals
# Wimbledon
Without leaving a single set from Andy Roddick in 2007. Powerful@ATPMediaInfopic.twitter.com/j4fxy8PDf7
– OptaAce (@OptaAce)
July 4, 2022
Nadal is in his eighth Wimbledon semifinal – and his 47th in the Grand Slam, behind Djokovic (53) and Federer (58) – Fritz has never reached the Major Eight before.
“Personally, it’s amazing for me to reach the quarterfinals after three years, so I’m very happy,” said Nadal, who is looking forward to the 2022 Calendar Grand Slam.
“Every match is different,” he added of his tie against Fritz, which he predicts.
“He’s playing well and his year is very good with my first Masters 1000 title against me, but we’ll reach the Wimbledon semifinals, so what should I expect?”