The Latest Breaking News from Mackenzie McDonald

Everything you need to know as the opening grand slam of the season gets underway in Melbourne

As if the rain that wiped out all play on the outside courts until evening wasn’t bad enough, at 5.30pm came the mightiest of blows.

Despite struggling to run or even hit a backhand due to a hip injury, Rafael Nadal says he was determined to finish his second-round match against Mackenzie McDonald.

The top seed suffered a hip problem during the second set of his 6-4 6-4 7-5 defeat.

MELBOURNE: Rafa Nadal’s Australian Open title defence lays in ruins on Wednesday after an injury-plagued defeat that shook up the men’s draw, even as rain wreaked further scheduling havoc at Melbourne Park on day three.

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A clearly hurting Rafael Nadal lost his second-round match at the Australian Open to Mackenzie McDonald 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 on Wednesday, abruptly ending his title defense and bid for a record-extending 23rd Grand Slam trophy. It was not immediately clear what was bothering the 35-year-old Spaniard, but he pulled up…

As Rafael Nadal got ready to step off the Rod Laver Arena, he paused for a prolonged goodbye.

Rafael Nadal has been dumped out of the Australian Open as last year's winner was beaten in straight sets by Mackenzie McDonald with the Spaniard needing medical attention during the match