Rafael Nadal could be out for six to eight weeks with a hip injury suffered during his Australian Open upset to Mackenzie McDonald, his manager said Thursday.
The world No. 2, who was clearly hurting during the straight-set loss in the tournament’s second round, has an injured left hip flexor. The ailment was discovered during an MRI exam at a Melbourne hospital, and the Grand Slam title record-holder will now head home to Spain and rest.
McDonald shocked the tennis world when he took down Nadal, the tournament’s No. 1 seed, 6–4, 6–4, 7–5 on Wednesday.