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Out in round two for Rafael Nadal
Photo: MANAN VATSYAYANA / AFP
Big surprise at the Australian Open: The two-time Melbourne champion Rafael Nadal lost to the American Mackenzie McDonald 4: 6, 4: 6, 5: 7.
It was Nadal's earliest exit from the hard court tournament in Melbourne since 2016. At the end of the second set, the 22-time Grand Slam tournament winner injured his hip area, after which there was little real chance of a successful comeback.
In the stands of Melbourne's Rod Laver Arena, his wife Maria Francisca Perello shed tears into a handkerchief.
Medical time out in the cabin
Nadal looked frustrated even before his injury.
The Spaniard scolded the chair umpire, on the bench he hit his racket with his hand after a break.
He then injured himself with a long step, Nadal hobbled to the bench with a pained face, where he had a short treatment in the upper area of his left leg.
He then disappeared into the dressing room for a medical break.
After a few minutes, the second in the world rankings returned and immediately won his service game to make it 4: 5 - but his movements were not smooth at all.
Opponent McDonald seemed overwhelmed by the situation, there was a break in his previously strong game.
But he recovered and advanced to the third round.
Task already in Wimbledon
Six months ago, Nadal even had to give up due to injury at the Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon.
At that time he did not compete in the semifinals against Australian Nick Kyrgios due to a torn abdominal muscle.
Nadal has also been suffering from chronic foot pain for years, which is why, according to his own statements, he had already thought about retiring not too long ago.
»Most days I was sad, I had lost the joy of playing tennis.
That's why I thought I had to retire," he recently told the Spanish newspaper Marca.
In the meantime, however, a new treatment is working well without being able to completely solve the problems.
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