Rafael Nadal out until April… FIVE things you might have missed from the Australian Open
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Rafael Nadal is out until April after a hip injury in a second round loss, Dan Evans beats Jeremy Chady after a bizarre ball dispute and Ben Shelton makes an impact on his first trip outside the US. …. FIVE things you may have missed about the Australian Open
- Rafael Nadal injured his hip in his second round loss to Mackenzie McDonald
- Dan Evans’ victory over Jeremy Chardy saw a bizarre dispute over a dropped ball
- Ben Shelton had never left the US before arriving at the start of the competition.
- The departure of Casper Ruud meant that the top two men’s seeds exited before the third round.
- READ: Angry Novak Djokovic reveals what REALLY happened at the break in the game
The Australian Open has continued apace, with several big names dropping out early, including reigning men’s singles champion Rafael Nadal.
Nadal’s departure was the big news on Wednesday and it has been confirmed that the Spaniard suffered a grade 2 hip flexor injury and will, as a result, be sidelined until the start of the clay-court season.
Sportsmail takes a look at the five things you might have missed on the night of the fourth day of the competition.
The Australian Open has already seen several weather problems, from extreme heat to heavy rain.
Nadal is out until April at the earliest
Rafael Nadal stayed in Melbourne following his loss against Mackenzie McDonald on Wednesday to assess the physical damage he sustained.
The 36-year-old Spaniard underwent an MRI which showed a grade 2 injury to a muscle in his left hip flexor.
That will likely mean anti-inflammatory treatment and rest, with a recovery time of six to eight weeks. That probably means the next time he will be seen will be at the start of the European clay court season in April, if all goes well.
Rafael Nadal will be out until at least the start of the clay court season with a hip injury
Dan Evans via after the ball dispute
Dan Evans became the second Briton to reach the third round when he edged out Frenchman Jeremy Chardy 6-4, 6-4, 6-1 in windier weather affecting Melbourne.
He will now face number five seed Andrey Rublev of Russia. There was a delay in the first when a lengthy dispute ensued over a ball that fell out of Chardy’s pocket during a trade.
Evans won the point anyway, but his opinion is that a ball falling out of the pocket should mean the culprit automatically loses the point.
Dan Evans gained a point after a ball fell out of Jeremy Chardy’s pocket, but the Brit believed it should have been an automatic win anyway.
Shelton’s first trip outside the US continues.
Ben Shelton, just 20 years old, reached the third round in what is his Melbourne debut when he defeated Chilean Nicolás Jarry 7-6, 7-6, 7-5.
What is unusual for the young American in this highly international sport is that this trip to New Zealand and Australia is his first time traveling outside of the United States.
He is the son of former United States player Bryan Shelton, and after a brief but stellar college career, has now left the University of Florida.
Ben Shelton’s trip to New Zealand and Australia is his first adventure outside of the United States.
Ruud completes historic outings for top two seeds
Second seed Casper Ruud of Norway was defeated 6-3 7-5 6-7 6-2 by American Jenson Brooksby, making it the first time in 21 years that the top two seeds in the men’s event have been knocked out before the third round. .
Ruud is another character appearing in the new Netflix series Break point that has had an early ending in Melbourne.
However, it might have more to do with the fact that he played too many lucrative exhibition matches around the world in the off-season, instead of resting and honing his game.
Casper Ruud’s exit to Jenson Brooksby ensured that the top two seeds exited before the third round for the first time in 21 years.
Strong start for Brits in doubles
GB are strongly represented in the men’s doubles, getting off to a good start with four pairs seeing British players progress to the second round, including newcomers Julian Cash and Henry Patten.
Liverpool’s Neal Skupski is the number one seed along with fellow Dutchman Wesley Koolhof and they beat Alexander Bublik and John-Patrick Smith 6-1 6-2.