Rafael Nadal out for 8 Weeks due to injury at The Australian Open

Rafael Nadal of Spain is projected to be out for six to eight weeks due to a hip injury suffered during his elimination from the Australian Open.

In the second round on Wednesday, the 22-time Grand Slam winner was defeated 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 by American Mackenzie McDonald.

In Melbourne, Rafael Nadal, 36, underwent an MRI scan on his left hip, which revealed a rupture in his left psoas muscle. World Number Two will return to Spain to undergo physical therapy.

Number one seed Nadal described himself as “mentally shattered” after his championship defense in Melbourne ended. “The scan revealed a grade two injury in the left psoas,” Rafael Nadal tweeted on Thursday. “It is now time for relaxation and anti-inflammatory treatment.” “Six to eight weeks is the typical recuperation time.”

Given the timeline, Rafael Nadal may be ready for the first Masters’ tournament of the 2023 season in March in Indian Wells. The European clay-court season begins next month and concludes in early June with the French Open, which Nadal wants to win for the 15th time.