Nadal makes shock exit
Swiatek, Pegula and Sakkari safely through
Defending champion Rafael Nadal hobbled out of the second round in a major upset at the Australian Open yesterday, but there was no such trouble for the leading women’s stars.
The Spanish great’s wife Mery was in tears as Nadal was beaten by 65thranked Mackenzie McDonald at Rod Laver Arena, where the roof was closed because of more rain in Melbourne.
The 36-year-old Nadal was clearly hindered by a hip issue that required a medical timeout, as he surrendered 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 to the American.
It was the reigning champion’s earliest exit from a major in seven years and will lead to more questions about whether injury and age are catching up with the record 22-time major champion.
The men’s title now looks Novak Djokovic’s to lose.
Nadal said defeat “hurt” and acknowledged that injuries were taking a toll.
“I’ve never been in a position to complain, life has given me so many positive things that I have no right to complain,” he said.
“[But] I am tired, I am sad, I am disappointed, all this is a reality.
“From here on... what I want is to continue playing tennis. Don’t think I’m saying all this because I want to take a step back.
“It is not the case, but my current feelings are bad.”
In contrast to Nadal’s disappointment and pain, 27-year-old McDonald is into the third round and a match against Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan.
“He’s an incredible champion, he’s never going to give up regardless of the situation,” said McDonald of his beaten opponent.
“I was trying to stay focused on what I was trying to do and he kind of got me out of my rhythm, and I just got through it.”
More rain fell yesterday as organisers frantically tried, but failed, to clear a backlog of matches.
Only matches on the three main stadiums, which have roofs, were able to begin on time.
Daniil Medvedev overcame a partisan crown and tough veteran John Millman to march a step closer towards a third consecutive Australian Open final.
The Russian seventh seed, who lost the 2021 decider at Melbourne Park to Novak Djokovic and then against Rafael Nadal last year, battled past the Australian wildcard entry 7-5, 6-2, 6-2.
Third seed Stefanos Tsitsipas of Greece comfortably beat home player Rinky Hijikata 6-1, 6-2, 6-2.
Frances Tiafoe, the 16th seed, defeated Chinese teenager Shang Juncheng in straight sets.
In the women’s draw, the top seeds continue to sail through largely untroubled.
World No.1 Iga Swiatek and dangerous American Jessica Pegula led the charge into the third round.
Polish title favourite Swiatek swept past Colombia’s Camila Osorio 6-2, 6-3 while third seed Pegula downed Belarusian Aliaksandra Sasnovich 6-2, 7-6 (7/5).
The three-time major winner Swiatek will face Spanish qualifier Cristina Bucsa in the third round.
Greece’s Maria Sakkari also went through, but she looked anything but the sixth seed in a 3-6, 7-5, 6-3 struggle against Russian qualifier and college student Diana Shnaider.
Sakkari was irked by Shnaider’s fist pumps and celebratory screams, before finding her composure.
“During a match, you can be very pumped,” Sakkari said. “But the way that some players celebrate their points, it’s not appropriate. I wasn’t happy with that.”