Defending champion <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/imperfect-start-for-rafael-nadal-23265849" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Rafael Nadal </a>hobbled out of the second round in a huge upset at the Australian Open on Wednesday, as Coco Gauff beat Emma Raducanu 6-3, 7-6 (7/4) in a battle of the rising stars. Nadal&rsquo;s wife Mery was in tears as the injury-hampered Spanish great lost to 65th-ranked Mackenzie McDonald at Rod Laver Arena, where the roof was closed because of more rain in Melbourne.&nbsp;
<img title="Mackenzie McDonald" src="http://origin.mid-day.com/images/2023/jan/Rafa-jan-nineteen-b_e.jpg" alt="Mackenzie McDonald" width="1280" height="720" />Mackenzie McDonald
The 36-year-old Nadal was clearly hindered by a hip issue that required a medical timeout, as he surrendered 4-6, 4-6, 5-7 to the American. It was the reigning champion&rsquo;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.&nbsp;
<img title="Coco Gauff" src="http://origin.mid-day.com/images/2023/jan/Rafa-jan-nineteen-c_e.jpg" alt="Coco Gauff" width="1280" height="720" />Coco Gauff
The men&rsquo;s title now looks <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/felt-like-playing-at-home-novak-djokovic-23264512" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Novak Djokovic&rsquo;</a>s to lose. Nadal said defeat &ldquo;hurt&rdquo; and acknowledged that injuries were taking a toll. &ldquo;I&rsquo;ve never been in a position to complain, life has given me so many positive things that I have no right to complain,&rdquo; he said. &ldquo;[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&rsquo;t think I&rsquo;m saying all this because I want to take a step back. It is not the case, but my current feelings are bad.&rdquo;
Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/sports/other-sports/article/australia-open-novak-djokovic-storms-into-second-round-23266003" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Australia Open: Novak Djokovic storms into second round</a>
In contrast to Nadal&rsquo;s disappointment and pain, 27-year-old McDonald is into the third round and a match against Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan. &ldquo;He&rsquo;s an incredible champion, he&rsquo;s never going to give up regardless of the situation,&rdquo; said McDonald of his beaten opponent.&nbsp;
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Injured Rafa Nadal inconsolable after shock defeat to American Mackenzie McDonald at Australian Open; Coco Gauff sees off Emma Raducanu

I’m tired, sad: Rafael Nadal

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I’m tired, sad: Rafael Nadal

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