Rafael Nadal explains why he played through injury in his defeat to Mackenzie McDonald at Australian Open

After Nadal returned to the court and played out the second set, the 36-year-old continued and fought on valiantly, but ultimately was not fit enough to force a fourth set as McDonald won it 6-4 6-4 7-5.

Speaking in his post-match press conference, Nadal said he did not wish to retire midway through his match as the defending champion.

“I didn’t ask my team, I’m old enough to make my own decisions,” he said.

“Being the defending champion, I did not want to retire here. Just try your best till the end no matter the chances, that is the philosophy of the sport.”

Asked what the injury was, Nadal said it was his hip and that it had been an issue for him for a “a couple of days”.

“I have been a couple of days like this but nothing like today,” he said.

“I don’t know if it is muscle or if it is the joint. I have had a history with the hip… I have had treatments but it was not this amount of problem.

“It’s frustrating and difficult to accept. I can’t come here and say life is fantastic right now, not now. Now is a tough moment, I need to accept that and keep going. In the end, I can’t complain about my life at all.

“I can’t say I’m not destroyed mentally because I would be lying. It’s hard, but hopefully it’s nothing too bad.

“I went through this process too many times in my career and I’m ready to keep doing it, I think. But it’s not easy, without a doubt.

“I lost the match, that’s it… I tried till the end. I was not able to hit the backhand at all and I was not able to run for the ball.”

For McDonald, the victory was his first over ‘The Big Four’ in his career.

Nadal was tested greatly by the American before he picked up his injury and he praised the display put in by the world No. 65.

“Mackenzie was playing at a great level of tennis,” Nadal said.

“I was fighting but he was doing well and I was not doing that well.”

– – –