Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open title defense has come to an end after just two matches.
Nadal ended last season and began this one in less than ideal form and his struggles continued with a 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 loss to Mackenzie McDonald during second-round action on Wednesday afternoon. The 36-year-old Spaniard dealt with a hip injury starting midway through the second set in Rod Laver Arena, ultimately managing to finish the match but bowing out after two hours and 32 minutes.
“Sometimes it’s frustrating,” Nadal assured. “Sometimes it’s difficult to accept; sometimes you feel super tired about all this stuff in terms of injuries. (I) can’t come here and say, lying, that the life is fantastic and staying positive and keep fighting; not now. Tomorrow starts another day. Now it’s a tough moment. It’s a tough day, and you need to accept that and keep going.
“In the end, I can’t complain about my life at all. So just in terms of sports and in terms of injuries and tough moments, I mean, that’s another one. (I) just can’t say that I am not destroyed mentally at this time, because I will be lying.
“Yeah, it’s hard for me. But let’s see. I mean, hopefully it’s nothing too bad. In the end (it) has been three positive weeks in terms of practice. So I really hope that (this) doesn’t put me out of the court for a long time, because then it’s tough to make all the recovery again. It’s not only the recovery. It’s all the amount of work that you need to put together to come back at a decent level.”
Even in Nadal’s absence the top quarter of the Aussie Open draw is loaded. Friday’s matchups in that section include Daniil Medvedev vs. Sebastian Korda, Hubert Hurkacz vs. Denis Shapovalov, and Frances Tiafoe vs. Karen Khachanov.
tough one
Hip injury? Is hip injury something he has had in the past? I thought it was his foot this time. Didn’t he get an injection to anesthetize the pain in his foot?
This was his hip. From what he said in presser it’s been bothering him for a while, sort of off and on I guess. Got worse. He hadn’t said anything about it before, he’s just tired of talking about injuries.
Its tiring hearing about them . Always the reason why he loses. And will be the reason why he retires.
Nadal is sadly done. He needs to rest up and play the French one more time and retire.
There’s always some excuse. What about the lefty to the rest of the tour’s backhand that allowed him to establish a formula and pick apart his opponents over a 20 year period. Can the rest of the tour use that as an excuse?
Tough one.
There’s always some excuse. What about the lefty to the rest of the tour’s backhand that allowed him to establish a formula and pick apart his opponents over a 20 year period. Can the rest of the tour use that as an excuse?
Everyone is exploiting something in life. Well done to McDonald on capitalising in the opportunity. He’s reaching the peak of his powers.
“for capitalizing on the opportunity”
People always criticized Rafa for having injuries bcos hes had then his entire career. but when he does sustain an injury then hr is criticized for admitting he has one. Sigh!!
Mow Novak has taken an injury tone-out right about the point when he has to serve to stay in second set bcoz his opponent in plating great………I supposed that is completely fine!!!
Novak looks extremely vulnerable its just a matter of time until someone takes him down
U am tired of the injuries myself particularity at the AQ but injuries have always been a part of Rafa’s career not an excuse! Ppl can’t then want to be upset if it’s the reason for his loss!!