Australian Open, Nadal eliminated: the injury then gives way to McDonald

The Australian Open loses the number one seed, Rafael Nadal, bitterly defeated in three sets by the 27-year-old Mackenzie McDonald, American number 63 in the world: 6-4 6-4 7-5 the score. Rafa arrived in Melbourne as holder of the title, but certainly not in top form and with a few games lost too many, moreover with a difficult draw and with a second week to be conquered. Well, for once, the Majorcan hasn’t denied the predictions.

The injury

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In fact, the physical condition of the world number two counted a lot, as he appeared to be really in difficulty from that point of view. Not only that: on the score of 6-4 5-3 in favor of McDonald, the reigning champion was forced off the pitch due to a problem with his left hip, suffered after a sprint. Nadal asked for medical time out, and his wife Xisca couldn’t hold back her tears. Also losing the second set, Nadal didn’t give up (as probably anyone would have done), but he still fought until 5-5 in the third, when a break from McDonald allowed the American to serve for the match and close . With this defeat, Nadal will definitely drop out of the top 5.

No alibis

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The 22-time Grand Slam winner at the beginning of the year has repeatedly dismissed the withdrawal hypothesis, also responding annoyed to journalists’ questions on the subject, but there is no doubt that once again he has to put things right from that point of view. Rain slowed down the tournament schedule but a few more matches ended. Felix Auger-Aliassime, seed number 6, continues his moment of confusion by losing the first two sets against Molcan and forcing himself to recover the match and close it in five sets (3-6 3-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 the score). No problem for Tiafoe against Shang, the first Chinese in Australia to have won the second round defeated (6-4 6-4 6-1).

Outside Fognini

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Defeat for Fabio Fognini against Thanasi Kokkinakis (6-1 6-2 6-2) in a match that lasted two days due to the rain, certainly not because of what happened on the pitch. Too much difference between the Ligurian and the Australian (who will now face Murray, Berrettini’s executioner, in the second round), between age and physical form. Maybe even a desire, with Kokkinakis very excited and local hope after the very painful forfeit of the doubles twin Nick Kyrgios. For Fognini, at almost 36, it could be his last time in Australia as a player, as he hinted with his post after the Auckland tournament a few days ago.