<p>Defending champion Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Australian Open in round two to 65th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald in a major upset Wednesday, his worst Grand Slam result in seven years.</p>.<p>The Spanish 36-year-old, who was struggling with what appeared to be a hip injury, slumped 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena.</p>.<p>Defeat opens the door for arch-rival Novak Djokovic to draw equal with Nadal's record 22 Slam wins. The Serb is back in Melbourne after missing last year's tournament when he was deported.</p>.<p>Top seed Nadal never settled, slumping a set behind before taking a medical timeout when a break down in the second set after hurting himself stretching for a forehand and grimacing in pain.</p>.<p>He battled on but was in clear discomfort with his movement hampered.</p>.<p>His wife Mery was seen in the crowd in tears.</p>.<p>"It was pretty tough to stay mentally engaged but I found a way to just pull it out," said McDonald.</p>.<p>"He's an incredible champion, he's never going to give up regardless of the situation. I was trying to stay focused on what I was trying to do and he kind of got me out of my rhythm, and I just got through it."</p>.<p>The last time Nadal fell so early at a Grand Slam was at the Australian Open in 2016, when he departed in the first round.</p>.<p>The pair had met once before, also in the second round of a Grand Slam. On that occasion, at the 2020 French Open, Nadal dropped just four games in a comfortable victory.</p>.<p>This time McDonald was always in control with Nadal immediately on the back foot, broken on his first service game, with the American bursting out to a 4-1 lead.</p>.<p>Nadal complained to the umpire that he was being rushed on his serve, before clawing a break back. He earned another break point at 4-5 to level it up, but the American held on and clinched the set.</p>.<p>Nadal left the court at the changeover, but it didn't help, with his serve again failing to fire, broken early once more as McDonald continued to dominate.</p>.<p>The Spaniard was on shaky territory, but as he has done so many times before, he found a way to claw back and level the set at 2-2.</p>.<p>But the errors began to creep in again and he was broken again before hurting himself at 15-30 in the eighth game, which he lost before gingerly walking back to his seat.</p>.<p>The physio was called and he could be heard saying "hip" in Spanish before leaving the court for a medical timeout with wife Mery in tears in the players' box.</p>.<p>He returned and gamely carried on but was a shadow of his former self.</p>.<p>Nadal created history on the same court last year with his five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final.</p>.<p>It saw him claim ownership of the record for most Grand Slam men's singles titles on 21, ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer.</p>.<p>He added a 22nd at Roland Garros, while Djokovic won Wimbledon to move onto 21.</p>
<p>Defending champion Rafael Nadal crashed out of the Australian Open in round two to 65th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald in a major upset Wednesday, his worst Grand Slam result in seven years.</p>.<p>The Spanish 36-year-old, who was struggling with what appeared to be a hip injury, slumped 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 at Rod Laver Arena.</p>.<p>Defeat opens the door for arch-rival Novak Djokovic to draw equal with Nadal's record 22 Slam wins. The Serb is back in Melbourne after missing last year's tournament when he was deported.</p>.<p>Top seed Nadal never settled, slumping a set behind before taking a medical timeout when a break down in the second set after hurting himself stretching for a forehand and grimacing in pain.</p>.<p>He battled on but was in clear discomfort with his movement hampered.</p>.<p>His wife Mery was seen in the crowd in tears.</p>.<p>"It was pretty tough to stay mentally engaged but I found a way to just pull it out," said McDonald.</p>.<p>"He's an incredible champion, he's never going to give up regardless of the situation. I was trying to stay focused on what I was trying to do and he kind of got me out of my rhythm, and I just got through it."</p>.<p>The last time Nadal fell so early at a Grand Slam was at the Australian Open in 2016, when he departed in the first round.</p>.<p>The pair had met once before, also in the second round of a Grand Slam. On that occasion, at the 2020 French Open, Nadal dropped just four games in a comfortable victory.</p>.<p>This time McDonald was always in control with Nadal immediately on the back foot, broken on his first service game, with the American bursting out to a 4-1 lead.</p>.<p>Nadal complained to the umpire that he was being rushed on his serve, before clawing a break back. He earned another break point at 4-5 to level it up, but the American held on and clinched the set.</p>.<p>Nadal left the court at the changeover, but it didn't help, with his serve again failing to fire, broken early once more as McDonald continued to dominate.</p>.<p>The Spaniard was on shaky territory, but as he has done so many times before, he found a way to claw back and level the set at 2-2.</p>.<p>But the errors began to creep in again and he was broken again before hurting himself at 15-30 in the eighth game, which he lost before gingerly walking back to his seat.</p>.<p>The physio was called and he could be heard saying "hip" in Spanish before leaving the court for a medical timeout with wife Mery in tears in the players' box.</p>.<p>He returned and gamely carried on but was a shadow of his former self.</p>.<p>Nadal created history on the same court last year with his five-set victory over Daniil Medvedev in the final.</p>.<p>It saw him claim ownership of the record for most Grand Slam men's singles titles on 21, ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer.</p>.<p>He added a 22nd at Roland Garros, while Djokovic won Wimbledon to move onto 21.</p>