Final Up to date: January 18, 2023, 14:53 IST
Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Australian Open (AP)
Rafael Nadal injured his left hip and misplaced to Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 within the second spherical of the Australian Open, abruptly ending his bid for a record-extending twenty third Grand Slam trophy
Rafael Nadal suffered a shock second-round loss to American Mackenzie McDonald on the Australian Open on Wednesday.
Here’s a take a look at the 36-year-old Spanish nice’s earliest Grand Slam exits since successful his first main in 2005 at Roland Garros.
Wimbledon 2005, 2nd spherical
Nadal was taking part in his first main since successful the French Open as a 19-year-old. His sport was nonetheless that of a clay-court specialist as he fell in 4 units to big-serving Gilles Muller from Luxembourg. Muller would beat Nadal once more on grass 12 years later in a five-set thriller within the spherical of 16.
Wimbledon 2012, 2nd spherical
Regardless of two triumphs on the All England Membership, in 2008 and 2010, Nadal skilled extra bother on the Wimbledon grass. He went down in a five-set defeat to Lukas Rosol, who additionally employed a excessive diploma of gamesmanship to unsettle the often unflappable Spaniard.
Wimbledon 2013, 1st spherical
The next yr marked Nadal’s first-ever opening-round exit at a Slam when he was shocked in straight units by diminutive Belgian Steve Darcis. It was an uncharacteristically lackadaisical efficiency from the Spaniard, with Darcis on the time changing into the lowest-ranked participant to knock him out of a Slam.
Wimbledon 2015, 2nd spherical
Nadal’s love-hate relationship with Wimbledon continued as he went out within the second spherical as soon as extra. This time it was to fiery German-born Dustin Brown, who knocked out the Spaniard in 4 units with a mix of massive hitting and deft contact.
Australian Open 2016, 1st spherical
The years 2015-2016 marked a nadir within the profession of tennis’s most embellished males’s participant with an opening-round exit on the Australian Open which raised questions on whether or not the tip was close to. A five-set loss to compatriot Fernando Verdasco additionally got here in the midst of his longest spell with out a Grand Slam triumph.
Australian Open 2023, 2nd spherical
Nadal has struggled since withdrawing from Wimbledon on the semi-final stage final yr and got here into 2023 low on confidence and looking out lower than totally match. He edged a first-round win over cramping Briton Jack Draper earlier than being outplayed 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 by McDonald on Rod Laver Area, as a hip harm took its toll.
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