CNN
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Rafael Nadal’s Australian Open title protection got here to a untimely finish on Wednesday as he misplaced 4-6 4-6 5-7 towards American Mackenzie McDonald in the second spherical.
The 36-year-old Nadal struggled with a left hip damage all through the match and wanted therapy throughout the second set on Rod Laver Arena.
He managed to complete the match, ultimately happening to McDonald in two hours and 32 minutes for his earliest exit from a grand slam since the 2016 Australian Open.
“I didn’t want to retire [as] the defending champion here. I didn’t want to leave the court with a retirement,” Nadal instructed reporters.
“It’s better like this at the end. I lost, nothing to say, congratulate [my] opponent. That’s the sport at the same time – just try your best until the end.”
McDonald made a quick begin to the match when he broke Nadal’s serve in the opening sport.
He then did the similar in the second set, taking management of the contest with constant, highly effective hitting from the baseline.
Nadal, who was seeking to prolong his males’s document of 22 grand slam titles at the Australian Open, left the courtroom for a medical timeout at 5-Three in the second set.
The Spaniard was clearly struggling along with his motion in the third set however nonetheless remained on serve till 5-5.
But then McDonald gained the higher hand, securing the essential break with a backhand passing shot as each gamers got here to the internet.
He wrapped up the contest the subsequent sport when Nadal dropped a backhand return into the internet to sign the largest victory of the 27-year-old’s profession.
McDonald, unseeded for the event, now has an opportunity to match his best-ever run at a grand slam if he manages to beat Dalibor Svrcina or Yoshihito Nishioka in the third spherical.
“He [Nadal] is an incredible champion,” McDonald stated in his on-court interview. “He’s by no means going to surrender, regardless of the state of affairs, so even closing it out towards a prime man like that’s at all times robust.
“I was trying to stay so focused on what I was doing. He kind of got me out of the rhythm with that but I’m happy I kept focusing on myself in the end and got through.”
After the match, Nadal stated he would obtain therapy to determine the precise nature and extent of the damage.
“It’s difficult to make a resolution if it’s a muscle, if it’s the joint, if it’s the cartilage … Let’s see how the injury is, and then let’s see how I can manage to follow the calendar,” he instructed reporters.