Monitoring desk
ISLAMABAD/SYDNEY: Rafael Nadal, defending champion, was pushed out of the Australian Open in round 2 by 65th-ranked American Mackenzie McDonald in a major upset on Wednesday, his worst Grand Slam results in seven years.
According to the AFP, the Spanish tennis player, who is struggling with what appeared to be a hip injury, slumped 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 under the closed roof of Rod Laver Arena.
Australian Open
Six hours of play on outside courts lost on Wednesday at the Australian Open because of rain, compounding the scheduling backlog and triggering complaints from tennis players.
Tennis was due to start at 11:00 am, but persistent drizzle meant there was no action until 5 pm, when matches resumed.
It followed intense heat and then torrential rain playing havoc a day earlier, with hours of delays and a lot of matches held up.
Those delayed matches were due to get underway early Wednesday, with the doubles competition also scheduled to start.
But only tennis matches in the three tennis stadiums which roofs could begin on time.
Briton Jamie Murray, a top doubles tennis player and brother of Andy Murray, hit out that Wednesday’s schedule was released too late on Tuesday evening that some tennis players went to sleep not knowing when they would start.
“11 am start on outside tennis courts. Players arrive approx. 8-830am,” he said that Schedule was released at 1130pm. Not good.
