Rafael Nadal sent off: ‘touching’ scene after Australian Open loss casts doubt – Tim Henman and Laura Robson

Rafael Nadal’s team looked particularly emotional as the 22-time Grand Slam winner left the court after losing to Mackenzie MacDonald in the second round of the Australian Open.

The 36-year-old was leading 6-4, 5-3 when he returned from injury. He immediately called his trainer at the end of McDonald’s service game and left the court for a medical timeout.

After Nadal returned to the court and played the second set, the 36-year-old continued to fight valiantly, but was never in shape to eventually force a fourth set.

At the end of the match against Nadal, there was a moving scene that gave him a long standing ovation from the team and the crowd, and Eurosport pundits Tim Henman and Laura Robson didn’t ignore it.

“Rafa’s team was the last to go,” Robson began during Eurosport’s Australian Open coverage.

“When he came back through the tunnel they slammed him out of the court. Does it happen every time? I’m not entirely sure if it does.”

Henman noted that Nadal’s wife, Maria Francisca Perello, was in tears as the 22-time Grand Slam winner left the court, and agreed it was a rare sight.

“I’m not sure,” Henman began. Did you see Rafa’s wife crying by her coat? “

Robson added that the emotional scene immediately caught the attention of photographers on set, adding that it was difficult to ascertain the severity of the injuries.

“Yeah, they were behind me,” Robson added.

“They were sitting in their chairs trying to take pictures of everyone’s live reactions in the box and it was really hard to read how bad his injuries were so we’ll see how the atmosphere goes. I was.

“It must be pretty sharp, especially if it looks like it’s related to the hip flexors. [out].

“You never really know until you get off the court, do the restoration and scan it. You know it doesn’t look good.”

At the post-match press conference, Nadal said he didn’t want to retire during the match because he believes in the “philosophy of the sport”.

“I didn’t ask my team. I’m old enough to make my own decisions,” he said.

“As the defending champion, I didn’t want to retire here. The philosophy of the sport is to give it your all until the end, no matter what the chance.”

Asked what caused the injury, Nadal said it was his hip, which had been a problem for him for “a few days.”

“I’ve had a few days like this, but nothing like today,” he said.

“I don’t know if it’s a muscle or a joint. I have a history of hips… I’ve had treatment and it’s not been too much of an issue.

“It’s frustrating and hard to accept. I came here and life isn’t great. It’s not now. It’s a tough time. You have to accept it and keep moving forward.” After all, I can’t complain about my life.

“I can’t say I’m not mentally wrecked because I lie. It’s hard, but hopefully it’s not that bad.”

“I’ve been through this process many times in my career and I think I’m ready to continue. But it’s definitely not easy.

“I lost the game, that’s all… I did my best until the end. I couldn’t hit a backhand at all, and I couldn’t run to get the ball.”

McDonald will face either Dalibor Svruchina or Yoshihito Nishioka in the third round.

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