Australian Open: Top Seeded Rafael Nadal bows out in Round 2 after 3-0 defeat against Unseeded Mackanzie McDonald

In shocking turn of events, Rafael Nadal, the defending champion on Australian open has been thrashed out of the tournament in the Round 2 itself.

Nadal was defeated by an unseeded American player named Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets of 6-4, 6-4, and 7-5.

Rafael Nadal’s stuggle with form continues

Heading into this tournament Rafael Nadal was going through a lean patch of form. In the earlier tournaments it was evident that Nadal was really not in the touch. He had lost 6 out of his 7 previous matches before the Grand Slam.

Yet, fans believed him to return to form once he hit the ground running in Australian Open. It did even happen for top seeded player, as he won his first-round game by 4-1 against Jack Draper.

However, the form and even his fitness gave up on his in the second-round match. Credit is due to McDonald who burst into the game with some great serves. He put early pressure on Nadal, further denting his confident.

Such was the level of Nadal’s struggles that he could only manage 65% of his first serves in the first set. He could barely manage to produce power and depth in his ground strokes as well. As a result, McDonald claimed the set 6-4.

Nadal suffered from injury before succumbing in game

There was some rhythm about Nadal in the second set. But that was until he pulled up with a hip injury in the second set. A timeout was called and Nadal went out for a treatment, and when he returned things were not the same. His movements and body language gave it away that this was not his day. As a result, he lost the second set too by 6-4.

Somehow managing to regain his composure and power, Rafael Nadal managed to take an upper hand in the third set. He was rallying ahead at 5-4, but that was all he could muster from the set. suddenly the sting in his shots flattened and he struggled in moving around the court.

The third set ended in a dramatic 5-7 in the favor of Mackenzie McDonald. It was an impressive performance by the young American. Although Nadal was suffering from injury and other woes, McDonalds kept it simple and powered his way home.

He will play the winner of the match between Dalibor Svrcina and Yoshito Nishioka in the third round of Australian Open.