Rafael Nadal Out Of Action For Six To Eight Weeks Due To Injury

Nadal was the Australian Open 2023's top-seed but crashed out following a straight-sets defeat to Mackenzie McDonald.

Nadal's second round exit from Australian Open 2023 was his worst Grand Slam result in seven years

Source : AFP

After crashing out of the Australian Open 2023, World Number 2 Rafael Nadal has announced on Thursday that he will be out of action for six to eight weeks after sustaining an injury during his second round defeat against USA's Mackenzie McDonald. The top-seed of the competition picked up a hip injury but chose to continue playing eventually losing in straight sets 6-4, 6-4, 7-5. This was the Spaniard's worst Grand Slam result in seven years.

"Sometimes it's frustrating, sometimes it's difficult to accept, sometimes you feel super-tired about all this stuff in terms of injuries," the 22-time Grand Slam winner said.

"Now it's a tough moment. It's a tough day and you need to accept that and keep going. You know, in the end, I can't complain about my life at all. (I) just can't say that I am not destroyed mentally at this time, because I will be lying. It's hard for me. But let's see, hopefully it's nothing too bad," the 36-year-old added.

Nadal's career has been an extremely injury prone one especially since he has crossed his 30s. The year gone by was no different while he won the Australian Open last time around, he suffered a stress fracture of the ribs shortly. However, Nadal recovered from it before being prescribed a daily dose of pain killer injections in his left foot. Yet the tennis ace found a way to clinch his record-extending 14th Roland Garros title in June last year.

However, he once again fell to an injury when he couldn't continue his campaign in the Wimbledon. His hip injury is the latest addition to this.