Images of Rafael Nadal leaving the court with an injury have become all too familiar for tennis fans. Nadal’s bid to defend his Australian Open title ended abruptly on Wednesday, as the 22-time Grand Slam champion was ousted in the second round by American Mackenzie McDonald.
Nadal appeared to struggle with a hip injury throughout the match, and at one point in the second set, he pulled up sharply in serious pain, eventually requiring treatment.
On Thursday, Nadal disclosed that an MRI scan revealed a grade 2 injury to his left iliopsoas muscle, which could sideline him for up to two months.
“I underwent some medical tests after my loss yesterday,” Nadal tweeted. “The MRI results showed a grade 2 injury in my left iliopsoas. I will now take some time off from sports and begin anti-inflammatory physiotherapy. The typical recovery time is 6 to 8 weeks.”
Nadal’s remarkable tenacity and strength of will, hallmarks of his storied career, were evident as he chose not to retire from Wednesday’s match despite his injury. He continued to battle through the pain, making the contest challenging for McDonald, who eventually triumphed with a score of 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in two hours and 32 minutes.
Cameras in the tunnel captured an emotional Nadal as he returned to the locker room after the match. Reflecting on his decision to continue, Nadal explained that withdrawal was never an option for him.
“I didn’t want to retire as the defending champion here,” Nadal said. “I didn’t want to leave the court due to retirement. It’s better this way in the end. I lost, and there’s nothing more to say. Congratulations to my opponent. That’s the essence of the sport—just trying your best until the end.”