Sports
‘Mentally devastated’: Rafael Nadal withdraws from Australian Open due to injury
No. The No.1 seed Nadal suffered a left hip injury and lost to Mackenzie McDonald in the second round of Wednesday’s tournament 6-4 6-4 7-5.
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.”
Author
Carlos Sainz returns on farewell to Ferrari and è candid about Lewis Hamilton
During an interview given to the microphones of the Spanish newspaper “As”, Carlos Sainz è returned to talk about his farewell to Ferrari to make way for seven-time world champion Lewis Hamilton starting in 2025.
“I have no negative words toward Ferrari, and I don't think they have any negative feelings toward me either. It’s a relationship that hasn’t been broken because we’re not happy with each other, but because of a circumstantial issue. I remain convinced that if Hamilton had not wanted to end his career at Ferrari, I would have renewed. To a seven-time world champion, però è impossible to say no and I understand the team's choice to confirm Charles and not me” began the Spanish driver.
“When I arrived at Ferrari, the team was going through a very difficult time. In 2020 they were far behind the best. I am very proud of the progress this team has made thanks in part to my work. These have been seasons that have allowed me to win my first F1 races, get my first pole positions and win several podiums. I am happy to have come to a historic team and to have had the pleasure of driving Ferrari over these years” continued the’former McLaren.
“Charles è one of the fastest drivers I have ever faced, especially on a dry lap. Between us the difference è always been minimal. The only problems came from always going to the track together, one after the other, but that è was the advantage of Ferrari with a very balanced pair of drivers” added the Spanish number 55.
“My next adventure will be at Williams, where I will try to do something similar to what I did in Ferrari and McLaren. I want to help the team improve moving forward. I have the experience and the good energy to help them progress. I have been good in the past and my next goal è to bring the stable to the top 10. If we do well in the next two years, I would like to be able to bet on Williams again in the future” concluded Carlos Sainz.
Author
Jannik Sinner’s new post exalts John Malagò
CONI President Giovanni Malagò spoke at the Allianz Tower in Milan on the sidelines of an event with Olympic and Paralympic athletes who participated in the Paris Games. During his speech, the Rome native wanted to dwell on the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics and the role that Jannik Sinner will play, who will be one of the volunteers contributing to the event’s organization.
“The origins of Jannik Sinner, who è is from South Tyrol, suggest that he could have become the world number one in skiing. This we can never know, but we certainly know that he è become the number one in tennis” began the CONI president.
“Volunteers are crucial to the Olympics. Without them such an event would not be economically sustainable. Sinner will be the No. 1 volunteer in Milan-Cortina. It’s really a lot of stuff” added Giovanni Malagò.
Author
Joao Fonseca does not hide ambition
During an interview given to the microphones of “CLAY”, the promising Joao Fonseca, among other topics, revealed what are his main goals in the short and long term.
“I see the rivalryà that Alcaraz and Sinner have and è to that level I want to get. Sometimes I think I should aim for top-100 or top-50, but no, I want to set my targets on them. I want to be like Carlos and Jannik, win Slams and other big tournaments” began the Brazilian tennis player.
“We are living the present with calm and serenity; reflecting carefully on every aspect of my game. This è a long-term career and we are waiting for the right moment to take the best path for me” added the 18-year-old from Rio de Janeiro.
“I know I will have to deal with the pressure that comes from the high expectations on me. They see me in tournaments, talking about me, but the pressure that I most prefer è the one that my opponents may feel when they face me” he chipped in Joao Fonseca.
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