Hampered by bad hip, Rafael Nadal loses at Australian Open

Melbourne Jan. 18 (U.S.): Rafael Nadal bowed his head during the changeups and rested his elbows on his knees, the very image of resignation.

What was already a poor start to 2023, after a year marred by all kinds of health issues, hit a low point at the Australian Open on Wednesday, according to the Associated Press.

Defending champion and No. 1 seed at Melbourne Park, Nadal injured his left thigh and lost to Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in the second round, abruptly ending his bid for a record 23rd Slam trophy.

“It’s a tough moment. It’s a tough day,” said Nadal, 36, the Spaniard. “I can’t say I wasn’t mentally devastated at this moment, because I would be a liar.”

He pulled out awkwardly at the end point late in the second set against 65th-ranked McDonald.

Nadal visited a coach on the sideline, then left the court for a medical period. Above the stands, his wife wiped away her tears. Nadal came back to play, but was clearly compromised and wasn’t his usual tireless self, saying afterwards that he couldn’t hit his back properly and couldn’t run much either.

This is Nadal’s first exit at any Grand Slam tournament since his first-round withdrawal in Melbourne in 2016 against 45th seed Fernando Verdasco.

This also made Verdasco the lowest-ranked player to ever beat Nadal in Australia – until, of course, McDonald on Wednesday.

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