Rafael Nadal says he is 'mentally destroyed' after injury wrecks Australian Open defence, hopes no long-term absence
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ByEurosport
Updated 18/01/2023 at 11:07 GMT
Rafael Nadal's defence of his Australian Open title came to a surprisingly early end after picking up a hip injury late on in the second set of his match against USA's Mackenzie McDonald. Nadal decided to play on after a lengthy medical timeout and saw out a straight-sets loss. The 36-year-old explained in his press conference why he did not want to retire from the match as soon as he got injured.
The 'very concerning' moment Nadal pulls up injured in second set
Rafael Nadal said he wanted to play on despite his hip injury picked up in the second set of his second round defeat to Mackenzie McDonald because he believes that is “the philosophy of the sport”. Nadal added that he was "mentally destroyed" and that he hopes the injury isn't a long-term problem.
The Spaniard was trailing 6-4 5-3 when he pulled up with his injury. He immediately called on the trainer at the end of McDonald’s service game before leaving the court for a medical timeout.
After Nadal returned to the court and played out the second set, the 36-year-old continued and fought on valiantly, but ultimately was not fit enough to force a fourth set as McDonald won it 6-4 6-4 7-5.
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Nadal said he did not wish to retire midway through his match as the defending champion.
“I didn't ask my team, I'm old enough to make my own decisions,” he said. “Being the defending champion, I did not want to retire here. Just try your best till the end no matter the chances, that is the philosophy of the sport."
Asked what the injury was, Nadal said it was his hip and that it had been an issue for him for “a couple of days”.
"I have been a couple of days like this but nothing like today," he said.
"I don't know if it is muscle or if it is the joint. I have had a history with the hip... I have had treatments but it was not this amount of problem.
“It's frustrating and difficult to accept. I can't come here and say life is fantastic right now, not now. Now is a tough moment, I need to accept that and keep going. In the end, I can't complain about my life at all.
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Rafael Nadal - Australian Open 2023
Image credit: Getty Images
"I can't say I'm not destroyed mentally because I would be lying. It's hard, but hopefully it's nothing too bad.
"I really hope that it doesn't put me out of the court for a long time.
"It's not only the recovery. It's all the amount of work that you need to put together to come back at a decent level.
"I went through this process too many times in my career and I'm ready to keep doing it, I think. But it's not easy, without a doubt.
"I lost the match, that's it... I tried till the end. I was not able to hit the backhand at all and I was not able to run for the ball."
For McDonald, the victory was his first over ‘The Big Four’ in his career.
Nadal was tested greatly by the American before he picked up his injury and he praised the display put in by the world No. 65.
"Mackenzie was playing at a great level of tennis," Nadal said.
"I was fighting but he was doing well and I was not doing that well."
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