Rafael Nadal said he was "destroyed mentally" after slumping out of the Australian Open with a second-round defeat Wednesday in which he struggled badly with a hip injury. But the 36-year-old defending champion said he loved tennis and hopes to keep going, despite his latest injury disappointment. The Spanish great hurt himself stretching for a shot in the second set against American Mackenzie McDonald, and while he battled on, his movement was hampered and he lost 6-4, 6-4, 7-5.

Crashing out in the second round was his earliest defeat at a Grand Slam since 2016.

Top seed Nadal said he wasn't sure if it was a muscle or joint problem with his hip but it had been with him for "a couple of days".

Source - NDTV