Rafa Nadal, the defending champion, was forced to withdraw from the Australian Open second-round on Wednesday, after aggravating his hip injury during a 6-4 6-4 7-5 loss to Mackenzie McDonald. This is the latest in a long line of injuries for the Spaniard at Melbourne Park.

The men’s draw has been thrown into disarray by the elimination of Nadal. Novak Djokovic, who is nine times champion, can now draw level with Nadal on 22 major titles if he wins a 10th title in Australia.

Nadal injured his left hip running for a backhand during the second set of the Rod Laver Arena match. After a trainer inspected him, Nadal went off court for a medical break.

He returned to the court grim-faced, but his movement, especially on his backhand, was clearly affected. McDonald ended the Spaniard’s bid for a 3rd Australian Open title.

Nadal admitted that his hip had been bothering him for a few days, but not to the extent it was during the match on Wednesday.

He told reporters, “I don’t really know what is going on. I don’t even know if (it’s) a muscle or a joint.”

“I have hip problems in the past.” I had to treat it in the past. It was not a problem of this magnitude. “I feel like I can’t move.”

Nadal had to retire from his quarter-final match against Marin Cilic in the fifth game of the 2018 Australian Open due to a hip injury.

McDonald, a hard-hitting American, had won the first set before Nadal’s collapse on Wednesday. He went toe-to toe with the 36 year-old Mallorcan, and won most of the baseline battles.

McDonald wiped out any demons that remained from their previous meeting in 2020, when Nadal thrashed him in straight sets at the French Open.

“He is an incredible champion. He will never give up, no matter what the situation. So even closing out a top man like that can be tough,” said McDonald.

“I was trying so hard to stay focused on what I did and he got me out of it with what he did.”

Feisty Spaniard returned, but it wasn’t enough

Nadal was greeted with a loud ovation when he returned to the court following his time out. He also received more cheers for holding serve.

His gloomy face told the story. He refused to retrieve a dropped shot in the next match, shaking his head and looking at his entourage.

McDonald won the second set after Nadal smashed a forehand in the net and thudded the racket against his chair when the ends changed.

McDonald sprinted forward to flick the passing shot past him.

Nadal made a desperate last stand to save the match, but it was not to be a repeat of his “Miracle of Melbourne” last year when he beat Daniil Medidev after coming back from 2-0 down in the classic final.

Nadal has suffered more than his fair share of heartache in the first Grand Slam of the year, even though the 2022 final is likely to be one of his finest moments.

In 2010, he had to withdraw from the quarter-final match against Andy Murray, despite trailing 6-3 7-6 3-1. This was due to a serious knee injury which kept him out for a whole month.

He was hampered by a back injury during the final of 2014 against Stan Wawrinka. He lost that match in four sets.

Nadal said that he had considered retiring from the match against McDonald but wanted to finish it as a defending champion.

Even though he said he had nothing to complain about, the latest injury still hurt.

“Sometimes, you feel super tired when it comes to all these injuries,” he said.

“I can’t lie and say that I’m not mentally destroyed at this time.”