Rafael Nadal out of the Australian Open 2023: Reigning Melbourne Park men’s singles champion Rafael Nadal is out of Australian Open 2023, the 22-time Grand Slam winner laboring with injury in a straight-sets loss to American Mackenzie McDonald at Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday afternoon.
The No.1 seed and two-time AO winner trailed McDonald 4-6 3-5 when he took a medical time-out after pulling up chasing a forehand, looking to have sustained a left hip or glute injury.
The 36-year-old Spaniard returned to play out the match but was compromised, McDonald winning 6-4 6-4 7-5 in two hours and 32 minutes.
McDonald, the world No. 65, will face the winner of Wednesday’s match between Japanese 31st seed Yoshihito Nishioka and Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina in the third round on Friday.
Nadal, a Spanish 36-year-old, who was struggling with what appeared to be a hip injury, slumped under a closed roof on Rod Laver Arena.
There have been times when Rafael Nadal has pulled out of Grand Slam matches – today he felt he could continue with no further problems.
Champion Rafael Nadal Out Of the Australian Open 2023 Web story
He was barely moving, but serving quite nicely, but once he was broken it was all over.
We have to say how well Mackenzie McDonald played. He made all the running in the early stages. Nadal was clinging on.