Injured and frustrated: Nadal is out

The Spaniard lost to Mackenzie McDonald 4:6,4:6,5:7. The American dominated Nadal in the opening set, but in the second round the favorite suffered a serious injury to his hip area while taking a long step. After that, the Grand Slam record winner more or less dragged himself to match point. The game was over after 2:32 hours.

Nadal had already seemed frustrated before his injury. He scolded the chair umpire and hit his racket with his hand on the bench after a conceded break. Injured, he then limped to the bench with his face contorted in pain, where he received a short treatment on the upper area of his left leg. He then disappeared into the cabin for a medical break. Wife Maria Francisca Perello had tears in her eyes. The disappointing end was foreseeable.

Nadal didn't give up and won his serve game straight away to make it 4:5 - but his movements weren't smooth at all. Opponent McDonald seemed overwhelmed by the situation and there was a break in his previously strong game. But he recovered and moved into the third round. For Nadal it is the earliest out at this major since 2016. Nadal lost seven of his last nine singles. The last time he had such a meager return was when he was 17 at the end of 2003/beginning of 2004. The now 36-year-old even had to give up the Grand Slam tournament in Wimbledon six months ago due to injury. At that time he did not take part in the semi-final against Australian Nick Kyrgios because of a torn abdominal muscle. Nadal has also been suffering from chronic foot pain for years, which is why he said he thought about retiring not long ago.

Iga Swiatek moved quickly into the next round. © APA/afp / MANAN VATSYAYANA

In the first games of the day, the top seed Iga Swiatek defeated the Colombian Camila Osorio 6:2,6:3. With Jessica Pegula and Maria Sakkari, the tournament's numbers three and six also made no mistake. The American won against the Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnowitsch 6:2,7:6(5), the Greek Sakkari against the Russian Diana Shnaider 3:6,7:5,6:3. The Czech Petra Kvitova, however, was eliminated.

The 5:7,4:6 of the two-time Wimbledon winner, ranked number 15, against the Ukrainian Anhelina Kalinina was for a long time the last women's result on the third day of the tournament. Because on the outdoor courts, play should only begin after more than six and a half hours, around 17.30:7.30 p.m. local time (16:XNUMX a.m. CET). Rain and only around XNUMX degrees did not allow any matches on the outdoor courts. Some first round games still have to be played as this was not possible the day before due to heat and then also due to rain.

Swiatek was 4-0 ahead against Osorio when the South American suddenly put a lot more pressure on the title favorite. “It was really physically intense,” Swiatek said after the climb. "Camila ran after every ball, she didn't give me many free points." Sakkari was actually in trouble; the Hellenic only managed to win against the 18-year-old Russian Shnaider after being behind in the set after more than two and a half hours. “She should give up her college life and become a professional,” Sakkari advised her opponent in an interview.

Pegula played with a number 3 on her t-shirt to show her support with Damar Hamlin. The Buffalo Bills football professional suffered a cardiac arrest in an NFL game on January 2nd, but the defender is on the mend and left the hospital a week ago. Pegula's parents Terry and Kim are the owners of the Buffalo Bills. “He (Hamlin, note) has recovered, that’s great to see,” said her daughter happily.

Jannik Sinner (No. 15) showed no weaknesses with a 6:3,6:2,6:2 against the Argentinian Tomas Martin Etcheverry. Sinner has already reached the quarterfinals of all Grand Slams, but no more. Later, the Canadian Felix Auger-Aliassime (6) also advanced, but only after being two sets behind with 3:6,3.6,6:3,6:2,6:2 against the Slovakian Alex Molcan.

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Injured and frustrated: Nadal is out

Defending champion Rafael Nadal was eliminated in the second round of the Tennis Australian Open on Wednesday. He lost easily in three sets.

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