Australian Open: Rafael Nadal is defeated by Mackenzie McDonald
Defending champion Rafael Nadal is eliminated from the Australian Open 2023. The Spaniard lost to Mackenzie McDonald 4: 6, 4: 6 and 5: 7.
by Jens Huiber
last edit:
Jan 18, 2023, 07:37 am
Rafael Nadal kept looking into his box - but nobody really wanted to make the decision for him there whether he should continue playing despite his health problems. This was already seen at Wimbledon last year, when the Spanish matador fought his way to the semifinals over five sets against Taylor Fritz. But then I couldn't compete there.
And so the 22-time Grand Slam champion did what his body still gave this Wednesday under the roof of the Rod Laver Arena. But if Mackenzie McDonald distributed the balls well, the American usually scored the point. In the end, the American won 6: 4, 6: 4 and 7: 5.
Nadal only injured in the third set
However: McDonald played two excellent first sets, Nadal's problems only came into play in the third round. Nadal seemed to injure his groin when he lunged. The conditions were also not such that they were accommodating to the favourite. In round one against Jack Draper, Nadal had worn his opponent down over four sets in the summer heat and with the roof open. The game against McDonald was played in much cooler temperatures. And in a huge hall.
Everything is now open in the upper half of the tableau. Nadal's potential quarter-final opponent Daniil Medvedev now has an easier path, at least until the semi-finals. Stefanos Tsitsipas, whom Nadal would have met in the semifinals, could also benefit from the defending champion's exit.
Here is the individual tableau at the Australian Open
laver arena