Defending champion Nadal hobbles out of Australian Open in major upset

Thursday, 19 January 2023 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

MELBOURNE, AFP: Injured defending champion Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Australian Open in round two to 65th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald in a major upset Wednesday, his worst Grand

Rafael Nadal

Slam result in seven years.

The Spanish 36-year-old, who was struggling with a hip injury, slumped 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena.

Defeat opens the door for arch-rival Novak Djokovic to draw equal with Nadal’s record 22 Slam wins. The Serb is back in Melbourne after missing last year’s tournament when he was deported. Top seed Nadal never settled, slumping a set behind before taking a medical timeout when a break down in the second set after hurting himself stretching for a forehand and grimacing in pain.

He battled on but was in clear discomfort with his movement hampered. His wife Mery was seen in the crowd in tears.

“It has been a couple of days like this, but nothing like today in that movement,” said Nadal. “I don’t know what’s going on, if it’s muscle, if it’s joint.

“I was not able to hit the backhand at all. I was not able to run for the ball. But I just wanted to finish the match. That’s it. I didn’t want to retire, as defending champion here. No, I didn’t want to leave the court with a retirement.” The last time Nadal fell so early at a Grand Slam was at the Australian Open in 2016, when he departed in the first round.

The pair had met once before, also in the second round of a Grand Slam. On that occasion, at the 2020 French Open, Nadal dropped just four games in a comfortable victory.