Nadal vs McDonald Highlights: Rafael Nadal KNOCKED OUT of Australian Open 2023, Mackenzie McDonald causes GREAT UPSET as Defending champion crashes out in Round 2: WATCH Highlights

Nadal vs McDonald Highlights: Australian Open DAY3 LIVE: USA’s Mackenzie McDonald clinched the biggest upset win at the Australian Open this year. The 27-year old sailed past defending champion Rafael Nadal 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 in straight sets to advance to the third round.  Playing against top seed Rafael Nadal, he looked comfortable throughout and ousted the defending champion. Follow Australian Open 2023 LIVE updates on InsideSport.IN 

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Nadal vs McDonald Highlights: Rafael Nadal KNOCKED OUT of Australian Open 2023, Mackenzie McDonald causes GREAT UPSET as Defending champion crashes out in Round 2: WATCH Highlights

Always a pleasure, @RafaelNadal 🫶#AusOpen • #AO2023 pic.twitter.com/CdnOMzYDK0

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 18, 2023

“I’m really happy with how I started that match,” McDonald said after the victory. “I thought I was playing really well, serving great, returning well too. I was really taking it to him.”

It is the earliest exit at a major for Nadal since he lost in the first round of the 2016 Australian Open in five sets against countryman Fernando Verdasco.

“It was actually pretty tough to stay mentally engaged a little bit there, but I found a way to just pull it out, so I’m happy,” McDonald said. “He’s an incredible champion. He’s never going to give up, regardless of the situation. Closing it out against a top guy like that is always tough.

Nadal vs McDonald Highlights: Rafael Nadal KNOCKED OUT of Australian Open 2023, Mackenzie McDonald causes GREAT UPSET as Defending champion crashes out in Round 2: WATCH Highlights

“I was trying to stay so focussed on what I was doing, and he kind of got me out of the rhythm with that. I’m happy I just kept focussing on myself in the end and got through, I got it done.”

McDonald is into the third round at the Australian Open for the second time, having advanced to the fourth round in 2021. This was his second victory against a Top 10 opponent (2-13) and he will next play 31st seed Yoshihito Nishioka or Czech qualifier Dalibor Svrcina.

In the only previous ATP Head2Head clash between McDonald and Nadal, the Spaniard triumphed with the loss of just four games at Roland Garros in 2020. The American made clear from the start of the match that this encounter would not be as straightforward, breaking the lefty’s serve immediately. McDonald would go on to break Nadal’s serve five times in the match, ultimately claiming the final break at 5-5 in the third set.

Nadal vs McDonald Highlights: Rafael Nadal’s title defence ends, loses to Mackenzie McDonald in straight sets in Australian Open 2023 second round: Watch Highlights