Nadal, the defending champion, is forced to withdraw from the Australian Open after a major upset
Rafael Nadal, the Australian Open’s defending champion, lost in round two to Mackenzie McDonald of 65th America in an upset Wednesday. It was his worst Grand Slam result in seven-years.
The 36-year old Spanish national, who appeared to have suffered from a hip injury, fell to 6-4,6-4, 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena.
Novak Djokovic will draw with Nadal for the record 22 Slam wins. After missing last year’s tournament, the Serb is back in Melbourne.
Top seed Nadal was never satisfied, falling a set behind and then taking a medical break when he had a breakdown in the second set. He had injured his forehand while stretching and grinning in pain.
He persevered but was clearly uncomfortable with the limitations to his movement.
Mery, his wife was seen crying in the crowd.
McDonald’s said, “It was hard to keep my mind engaged but I found a way.”
He’s an amazing champion and he won’t give up no matter what the circumstances. He helped me to keep my eyes on the task at hand and I managed to get through it.
Nadal was last to fall so early at a Grand Slam in 2016 at the Australian Open, when he left in the first round.
The pair had already met once before, in the second round a Grand Slam. Nadal won the 2020 French Open with a comfortable win of just four games.
McDonald’s was in complete control this time, Nadal being on the back foot immediately after his first service game. The American took a 4-1 lead.
Nadal complained that he was being rushed with his serve to the umpire before grabbing a back break. To level the match, he earned a second break point at 4-5 but the American won the set.
Nadal quit the court at the changeover but it didn’t help. His serve again failed to fire and was broken early as McDonald’s continued to be dominant.
The Spaniard was in uncertain territory but, as he had done many times before, he found a way of clawing back and levelling the set at 2-2.
However, he began to make mistakes again. He was then broken again at 15-30 in his eighth game. He lost and then gingerly walked back to his chair.
The physio was called. He could be heard saying “hip”, in Spanish, before leaving the court to go for a medical timeout. Mery was in tears in her players’ box.
He was only a shadow of his former self when he returned.
Last year, Nadal’s five-set win over Daniil Mevedev in final made history on the same court.
This saw him take over the record for Grand Slam singles Grand Slam titles (21), ahead of Roger Federer or Djokovic.
He won a 22nd place at Roland Garros and Djokovic won Wimbledon.
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