Rafael Nadal's Australian Open campaign came to a hugely disappointing end in just the second round, sparking concerns regarding his future.
The Spaniard succumbed to a 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 defeat against USA's Mackenzie McDonald - his earliest exit at Melbourne Park since an opening round loss in 2016. The 36-year-old has struggled with injury over the past six months and this time a hip problem scuppered his chances of playing his best tennis.
Nadal was running out wide to hit a forehand when he appeared to jar his left hip, immediately touching the area and dropping to his haunches. The top seed limped through the rest of the game and then left court for a medical timeout, returning to see out the second set.
Despite being unable to chase down any deep shots, Nadal somehow managed to hold serve until 5-5 in the third set before McDonald secured the inevitable break before serving out the match. His team were visibly upset, including his wife Mery Perello who wiped the tears from her eyes as she witnessed her husband suffer yet another injury on court.
Nadal’s exit spoke volumes as he walked into the middle of the court and was given a standing ovation by the capacity crowd inside Rod Laver Arena. Those inside his box also stayed until the last to join in the rapturous applause for the tennis icon, in a potential hint retirement could be on the horizon.
Post-match Nadal revealed he had come into the match with an issue in his hip that then became significantly worse. He said: "It has been a couple of days like this, but nothing like today in that movement. We're going to start talking about that now, but I don't know what's going on, if it's muscle, if it's joint.
"I have history in the hip. I had to do treatments in the past, address it a little (but there) was not this amount of problem. Now I feel I cannot move. I tried until the end. I don't know if in good conditions I will win the match, I will have better chances without a doubt.
"But at the end, that's it. I just tried. It was not possible." To be struck down by another injury was hugely disappointing for Nadal, who added: "In terms of sports and in terms of injuries and tough moments, that's another one. I just can't say that I am not destroyed mentally at this time, because I will be lying."
The tennis legend is likely to drop some places in the world rankings following an early loss in Australia, 12 months after his spectacular run to the title and what was a record 21st Grand Slam crown.
