Rafael Nadal is ousted from the Australian Open.

(Getty Images: Cameron Spencer)

In the second round of the Australian Open, Nadal was defeated. The legendary Spanish player, who was hampered by an injury in the Grand Slam, suffered one of his earliest eliminations in Australia. The incumbent champion was defeated by American Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-4, and 7-5.

Rafa Nadal, the defending Australian Open champion, was defeated by Mackenzie McDonald on Wednesday in the second round of the competition (6-4, 6-4, 7-5) despite plainly being injured throughout the match.

Nadal made the decision to resume play following a medical break, but because he was unable to completely move, he was defeated 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in three sets. The Spaniard's early exit from the Australian Open is only the second occurrence since 2007 in total.

McDonald had only ever defeated a top-5 player once in his career, the Argentine Juan Martin del Potro in 2019, but he promised a "memorable" battle and broke the Spaniard's serve in the opening game.

The impact on Rafael Nadal's ATP rating of losing the Australian Open

The possessor of 22 Grand Slam trophies will pay a steep price for this unwarranted elimination. He was the reigning Australian champion, and by falling in the second round, he will forfeit 1,955 points, dropping him out of the top five players in the ATP rankings. Additionally, he will be just 1,000 points away from falling out of the Top 10, a position Rafa hasn't held since April 2005.

The last Major tournament Nadal had exited in the second round was Wimbledon 2015, where Dustin Brown won 7-5, 3-6, 6-4, 6-4.

Now, McDonald accomplished the feat, winning his second match against a Top 10 player.