When Rafael Nadal pulled up short in the business end of the second set, clutching his hips and wincing in pain, a day, that had little respite from persistent showers and southerly winds that blew across the sprawling precincts of Melbourne Park, appeared to have come full circle.
The defending champion, who may have exacerbated an injury he has been carrying around this week, was nowhere near his best under the roof at the Rod Laver Arena on Wednesday. The 36-yearold finally hobbled out of the Australian Open, only completing the second-round match so that his opponent American Mackenzie McDonald would have a wellearned 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win. "I tried till the end. I don't know if in good condition I would've won the match," said the 22-time major winner, who had the backing of the full house.
