Rafael Nadal, who won the Australian Open last year, will miss up to eight weeks after an injury that he suffered at this year's event.
The injury occurred during Nadal's shock second-round defeat to American Mackenzie McDonald on Wednesday. The 36-year-old Spaniard, who is considered one of the greatest tennis players of all time, was visibly upset and "mentally destroyed" after the match.
Nadal's exit from the Australian Open marks the end of his title defense and marks a major setback in his quest to continue his dominance in the sport.
As a result of the injury, Nadal will definitely miss the Dubai Tennis Championships next month, and his participation at Indian Wells and the Miami Open is now in serious doubt. Indian Wells is set to begin on March 8th, followed by the Miami Open on March 22nd.
This is not the first time that Nadal has been forced to take a break from the sport due to injury. In recent years, the Spaniard has struggled with knee, wrist, and back injuries, all of which have forced him to take extended periods of rest.
Moreover, the Spaniard may drop out of the Top 10 for the first time in more than 17 years. He will hope to recover in time for the ATP 1000 event in Indian Wells, where he played the final last year.
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