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Defending champion Rafael Nadal is ELIMINATED from the Australian Open in the second round when the No. 1 seed is upset by 65th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald in a straight-set upset.
- Defending champion Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the Australian Open
- He was beaten in straight sets on Wednesday by American Mackenzie McDonald.
- Nadal was defeated after he struggled with an injury during the clash.
- He appeared to be suffering from a suspected hip problem towards the end of the second set.
Defending champion Rafael Nadal was knocked out of the Australian Open in dramatic fashion in the second round by American Mackenzie McDonald after suffering an injury.
The 65th-ranked American outclassed the 22-time Grand Slam winner to a stunning straight-set victory, 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
Nadal was well beaten after stopping with a suspected hip injury towards the end of the second set.
American Mackenzie McDonald defeated defending champion Rafa Nadal at the Australian Open
World number 65 McDonald caused a huge upset at Rod Laver Arena, winning in straight sets
Nadal clutched his left hip during the eighth game of the second set of his clash with McDonald after he appeared to sustain the injury when he planted his foot while running for a shot, and immediately left the court for medical attention.
The 36-year-old returned to play at Rod Laver Arena but was clearly sore and struggling to run as McDonald wrapped up the biggest victory of his career 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.
Nadal’s box, including his tear-wiping wife Maria, has been shattered by injury as the 22-time major winner appears to be nearing the end of his glittering career.
Even before the injury, Nadal was rocked by McDonald, who broke serve in the first game of the match.
Nadal got frustrated and argued several times with the chair umpire.
Nadal struggled with injury throughout, appearing to strain his left hip during the second set.
The apparent hip problem marks the sixth time in his great career that injury or illness has affected his Australian Open campaign.
He withdrew in the 2010 quarter-final against Andy Murray with a knee injury and was severely hampered by a hamstring strain the following year in a last-round loss to compatriot David Ferrer.
Nadal withdrew from the Open in 2013 with a stomach virus and suffered a back injury in warm-ups before losing the 2014 final to Stan Wawrinka.
In 2018, the Spanish great withdrew from his quarterfinal against Marin Cilic with a hip problem.
Last year, Nadal finally won a second Australian Open title, 13 years after his first, by coming back from two sets to defeat Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in a classic decider.
The result came as quite a shock to the defending champion at the Australian Open on Wednesday.
The early exit of the world number 2 is another blow to the Australian Open organizers, with the draw already devastated by major withdrawals and withdrawals.
Missing are women’s champion Ash Barty, seven-time champion Serena Williams, her sister Venus, double winner Naomi Osaka, world number 1 Carlos Alcaraz and the legendary Roger Federer.
Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley was captured with a somber look on his face during Nadal’s medical timeout.
After his big surprise, McDonald was very respectful of Nadal, praising his willingness to keep fighting despite his injury.
He said: ‘He’s an incredible champion. He’s never going to give up, so closing the door on a guy like that is hard.
“I’m happy that I continued to focus on myself and I did it.”