WOUNDED Rafa Nadal crashed out of the Australian Open after suffering an injury — and this second-round exit left his wife in tears.
The 2022 singles champion was defeated 6-4 6-4 7-5 in more than two-and-a-half hours by American journeyman Mackenzie McDonald as he relinquished the crown he won in memorable scenes 12 months ago.
Rafa Nadal injured himself in the closing stages of the second set after hitting a winner
The 36-year-old hurt himself after hitting a shot in the first point of the eighth game of the second set on the Rod Laver Arena.
He was seen wincing as he collected his towel and at one point, went down on his haunches due to the pain.
Nadal called for a physio, who began massaging his left hip area, and then he headed backstage for a medial timeout where it is believed he had some form of pain medication.
Though he managed to hold his serve in the next game, McDonald successfully served for a two-nil sets lead.
It was at this point, Nadal’s wife Xisca Perello was seen on TV with tears streaming down her face as her husband was physically struggling.
During the changeover before the start of the third set, the Spaniard sat on his chair in a subdued mood and did not go through his normal superstitious routine of fiddling with his water bottles and towels.
Nadal has previous for playing through the pain — it was during the Wimbledon quarter-final win over American Taylor Fritz where his father Sebastian ordered him to quit rather than cause more damage to an already bruised abdomen.
In the end, he pulled out of the semi-final in SW19, giving Australian foe Nick Kyrgios a bye to the Centre Court showpiece.
Throughout this Oz Open encounter, Nadal had been in an agitated state, complaining to the umpire Marijana Veljovic that she was turning on the 25-second shot clock too early and this was disrupting his rhythm.
It is also understood he requested sawdust to use on his hands to cope with the humid conditions under the closed roof.
This is the first time in Melbourne since 2016 that Nadal had failed to make it beyond the second round.
The last time a top seed was ousted in the second round of the tournament was Brazilian Gustavo Kuerten in 2001.
And world No.65 McDonald, 27, represents the lowest-ranked player that Nadal has been beaten by at this major Down Under.
McDonald – whose coach Robby Ginepri first played Nadal on the ATP Tour in 2005 – may have beaten a half-fit opponent but he won’t care as he reaches the third round here for the second time.
The Californian can now prepare for a clash on Friday against either Czech Dalibor Svrcina or Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka.
It is only day three of this first Slam of 2023 and yet the top half of the men’s draw has massively opened up following the departure of the defending champion and No.1 seed.
