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Defending champion Rafael Nadal made an early exit for the first Grand Slam of the season after a loss against M. McDonald on Wednesday. The World No. 1 lost the match in three straight sets 6-4, 6-3, 7-5. This makes his earliest exit in the Australian Open for the first time since 2016.
With this exit, Nadal ended his record extending 23 rd Grand Slam title. During the match, the 35-year-old looked in clear trouble as he pulled up awkwardly at the end of the point in the second set. He was also checked by his trainer and later left the court on a medical timeout.
The Spaniard however received a standing ovation after his early exit from the tournament, his wife Maria Francisca Perello was left in tears seeing the greats struggle with injury in the middle.
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Nadal earlier produced a four-set win over Jack Draper in Round 1 of the Australian Open 2023. While the World No 65 McDonald beat countryman B Nakashima 7-6, 7-6, 6-1, 7-6, 6-4 in Round of 128 of Australian Open 2023.
