Rafael Nadal & The Foot Concern

Courtesy: LondonEveningStandard

Defending champion Rafael Nadal fears his Wimbledon campaign may be over after he suffered a foot injury in today's four-set victory over Juan Martin Del Potro.

Nadal revealed he will have an MRI scan on the injury, which he sustained near the end of the first set of his 7-6 (8/6) 3-6 7-6 (7/4) 6-4 victory on Centre Court. The Spaniard, seeded number one, had close to 10 minutes of treatment before the start of the first-set tie-break and said afterwards that he will go for a scan on the problem on Tuesday.

"I don't know what the injury is yet. I will have an MRI (scan) as soon as possible," Nadal said. "I am worried for sure. I will have the scan and then let's see if I can recover for Wednesday. I cannot predict the future."

Nadal, who missed the defence of his 2008 title due to a knee injury, admitted he came close to retiring from Monday's match after picking up the foot problem.

"I felt the problem for the half of the first set. It was really bad," the world number one added.

"At 6-5 I felt terrible. 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.

"The pain stayed with me for the next point and all the matches."

Should Nadal's injury not end his campaign, he will take on American Mardy Fish in the quarter-finals on Wednesday.

He could then play Andy Murray in the semi-finals if the Scot beats Feliciano Lopez.