American Mackenzie McDonald won the biggest match of his career at the 2023 Australian Open, stunning defending champion and current world #2 Rafael Nadal in three sets on Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne. The 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal lost in the second round of his title defense of his second career Australian Open title, after surviving Jack Draper in the opening round, Nadal struggled against McDonald, who has never previously advanced beyond the 4th round of a Grand Slam, or been ranked in the ATP Top 40.
Mackenzie McDonald def. Rafael Nadal 64 64 75
The 27-year-old California native and UCLA alumnus, who reached a career high ranking of #48 last season and reached his first career ATP final in Washington, had survived a five set tilt with countryman Brandon Nakashima in the opening round that featured four tiebreaks. McDonald begin the match against Nadal in spirited form, taking the first set 6-4 in less than an hour, Nadal quickly fell behind a double break 4-1, as McDonald broke him in two of his first three service games while facing no break points on his own serve. Nadal would regain one of those breaks, but McDonald’s powerful game helped him secure the first set, saving a break point on his own serve before taking the first set 6-4 on a final game of the set that went to deuce.