MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) — Rafael Nadal ducked his head during court changes and rested his elbows on his knees, the very picture of resignation.
The year had already started poorly for him, following a 2022 marred by all sorts of health issues, but he reached his nadir at the Australian Open on Wednesday.
The defending champion and first seed in Melbourne injured his left chain and lost in the second round to Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-4, 7-5, which abruptly ended his defense of the title and his attempt to extend his record to 23 Grand Slam titles.
“It is a difficult moment. It’s a difficult day,” said the 35-year-old Spaniard. “I can’t say that he’s not mentally broken right now, because he would be lying.”
Nadal got up awkwardly after a point late in the second set against American McDonald, who is ranked 65th on the ATP rankings.
The Spaniard received a visit from a coach on the wing and then left the pitch for a medical break. In the stands, his wife was wiping away tears. He returned to the court, but with obvious physical problems and later explained that he also couldn’t hit a good backhand or run much.
But, as the defending champion, he said he didn’t want to walk away with a mid-match retirement.
Nadal explained that he had suffered from hip discomfort in recent days, but never as severe as on Wednesday. He noted that he did not know the exact nature of his injury, but added that he will undergo tests to determine if the problem is in a muscle, joint or cartilage.
“He is an incredible champion. He never gives up no matter what the situation, so getting close to a guy at his level is always tough,” said the 27-year-old McDonald, who won NCAA singles and doubles championships for UCLA in 2016. “I kept focusing on my and I got ahead.”
This is Nadal’s earliest Grand Slam elimination since his first-round loss in Melbourne in 2016 against Fernando Verdasco.
McDonald’s has never made it past the round of 16 in a major. In his only previous meeting with Nadal, at Roland Garros in 2020, he was only able to win four games in a very lopsided match.
A year ago, Nadal was crowned in Melbourne and added his 21st Grand Slam title. A few months later, in Paris, he increased his tally to 22, more than any other tennis player on the men’s tour.
He currently occupies second place in the ATP ranking, but in Australia he is the first seed due to the injury of his compatriot and world number one, Carlos Alcaraz.
But lately her body has been playing tricks on her.
He had to inject painkillers into his left foot en route to victory at Roland Garros in June, withdrew from Wimbledon in July before the semifinals with a torn abdominal muscle and suffered a rib cartilage problem.
Nadal’s departure takes away more shine from the tournament. Nick Kyrgios, a Wimbledon finalist last year, withdrew to undergo surgery on his left knee; Naomi Osaka, with four grand slams to her credit, is not competing this year because she is pregnant; Simona Halep, winner of two majors, is serving a doping ban and Venus Williams was absent due to injury.
And all this in the first edition of a major since Serena Williams and Roger Federer announced their retirement.
In other matches of the day, the top seed in the women’s draw, Iga Swiatek, easily advanced to the third round by beating Colombian Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-3.
In a duel with the roof closed due to rain, the Polish tennis player suffered a break when she was at match point leading 5-1, but secured the victory two games later.
The reigning French Open and US Open champion will face the winner of the duel between Canadian Bianca Andreescu, former US Open champion, and Spanish Cristina Bucsa.
“I think it was more difficult than the scoreboard says,” Swiatek said. “It was really intense physically. She didn’t give me many points.”
“It was difficult, but I am happy that I was consistent and proactive,” he added. “I am extremely happy that I won and I will play the next round.”
American Jessica Pegula (seeded 3rd) struggled against Aliaksandra Sasnovich, but ended up prevailing 6-2, 7-6 (5).
Pegula had a chance to close the match with serve and a 5-4 lead in the second set, but was broken. She took the victory in the tiebreaker and will face the Ukrainian Marta Kostyuk or the local Olivia Gadecki in the next phase.
Maria Sakkari (6th) survived the duel against 18-year-old Russian Diana Shnaider and advanced 3-6, 7-6, 6-3. Lefty Shnaider saved two match points on her serve, but Sakkari rallied from 0-30 in the next game.
“We both show a very high level. I think she played an amazing game,” Sakkari said. “She is very young and her career is very promising.”
In the men’s division, Jannik Sinner (15th) defeated Argentine Tomás Martín Etcheverry 6-3, 6-2, 6-2 to reach the third round.
