Defending champion and top seed Rafael Nadal injures his left hip and loses his second-round match at the Australian Open, abruptly ending his bid for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam trophy. [Photo: Getty Images]
He said the hip had been bothering him for a couple of days, but it was never as bad as it became on Wednesday. Nadal was not sure exactly what the nature of the injury was, saying that he will have medical tests to determine if it has to do with a muscle, joint or cartilage.
This is Nadal’s earliest exit at any Grand Slam tournament since bowing out in the first round in Melbourne in 2016 against No. 45 Fernando Verdasco. That also made Verdasco the lowest-ranked player to defeat Nadal in Australia — until, of course, McDonald on Wednesday. At night, 2022 French Open runner-up Coco Gauff got past 2021 U.S. Open champion Emma Raducanu 6-3, 7-6 in a second-round meeting between two of the sports young stars.
A year ago, Nadal won the Australian Open for the second time to earn his 21st major championship, then raised his total to 22 — the most for a man — at Roland Garros. That is all on top of this: The 2023 edition of the Australian Open is the first Grand Slam tournament since Serena Williams and Roger Federer announced their retirements.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Top-seeded Rafael Nadal ousted by Mackenzie McDonald in second round of Australian OpenA clearly hurting Rafael Nadal - the No. 1 seed and defending tournament champion - lost his second-round match at the Australian Open to Mackenzie McDonald.
Read more »
Top-seeded Rafael Nadal ousted by Mackenzie McDonald in second round of Australian OpenA clearly hurting Rafael Nadal lost his second-round match at the Australian Open to Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 on Wednesday, abruptly ending his title defense and bid for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam trophy.
Read more »
Rafael Nadal Exits Australian Open in Second RoundRafael Nadal's latest bid for a 23rd major tennis title came to an abrupt end when he was eliminated in the second round of the Australian Open
Read more »
Rafael Nadal stunned by American in straight sets at Australian Open, out in second roundRafael Nadal, ranked second in the world, was stunned in straight sets at the Australian Open, losing to American Mackenzie McDonald, ranked 65th.
Read more »
Australian Open prediction: Rafael Nadal vs. MacKenzie McDonald odds, pickRafael Nadal and Mackenzie McDonald will match up during Round 2 of the Australian Open at 10 p.m. ET.
Read more »
Banged-up Rafael Nadal ousted from Australian OpenA clearly hurting Rafael Nadal lost his second-round match at the Australian Open to Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 on Wednesday.
Read more »