<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/rafael-nadal" target="_blank">Rafa Nadal</a> said he would plot a path back to the tour once he has a firm prognosis for the troubling hip problem that cut short his Australian Open, while conceding the growing weight of injuries was taking a heavy toll.</p>.<p>Nadal's title defence <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/defending-champion-rafael-nadal-out-of-australian-open-1182183.html" target="_blank">ended bitterly</a> on Wednesday as he slumped to an injury-hampered 6-4 6-4 7-5 second round defeat by Mackenzie McDonald at Rod Laver Arena, the latest chapter in a <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/rafael-nadals-injury-woes-at-the-australian-open-1182223.html" target="_blank">long history of fitness problems</a> at Melbourne Park.</p>.<p>The 22-times Grand Slam champion arrived undercooked, with rib, abdomen and foot injuries having kept him off court for much of the season after Wimbledon last year.</p>.<p>He lost both of his matches in the United Cup for Spain in the leadup and scraped through the first round against Jack Draper when the young Briton suffered cramping on a hot afternoon.</p>.<p>Though Nadal has won only two matches since the US Open in September, the 36-year-old found positives out of his trip to Australia.</p>.<p>"I mean, hopefully it's nothing too bad. In the end (it has) been three positive weeks in terms of practice," he told reporters.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/raducanu-faces-gauff-in-australian-open-second-round-blockbuster-1182148.html" target="_blank">Raducanu faces Gauff in Australian Open second-round blockbuster</a></strong></p>.<p>"So I really hope that (injury) doesn't put me out of the court for a long time, because then it's tough to make all the recovery again.</p>.<p>"It's not only the recovery. It's all the amount of work that you need to put together to come back at a decent level."</p>.<p>With Nadal eliminated, his great rival Novak Djokovic can match the Spaniard's 22 Grand Slam titles with a 10th crown at Melbourne Park.</p>.<p>"In the end, I can't complain about my life at all," said Nadal.</p>.<p>"So just in terms of sports and in terms of injuries and tough moments, I mean, that's another one.</p>.<p>"Just can't say that I am not destroyed mentally at this time, because I will be lying."</p>.<p>Nadal has long feared injuries will curtail his career but always found a way back from the low points to achieve more success.</p>.<p>He left no-one in doubt he still had the fuel for another comeback.</p>.<p>"It's a very simple thing: I like what I do. I like playing tennis," he said.</p>.<p>"I know it's not forever. I like to feel myself competitive. I like to fight for the things that I have been fighting for almost half of my life or even more.</p>.<p>"It's not that complicated to understand."</p>
<p><a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tag/rafael-nadal" target="_blank">Rafa Nadal</a> said he would plot a path back to the tour once he has a firm prognosis for the troubling hip problem that cut short his Australian Open, while conceding the growing weight of injuries was taking a heavy toll.</p>.<p>Nadal's title defence <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/defending-champion-rafael-nadal-out-of-australian-open-1182183.html" target="_blank">ended bitterly</a> on Wednesday as he slumped to an injury-hampered 6-4 6-4 7-5 second round defeat by Mackenzie McDonald at Rod Laver Arena, the latest chapter in a <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/tennis/rafael-nadals-injury-woes-at-the-australian-open-1182223.html" target="_blank">long history of fitness problems</a> at Melbourne Park.</p>.<p>The 22-times Grand Slam champion arrived undercooked, with rib, abdomen and foot injuries having kept him off court for much of the season after Wimbledon last year.</p>.<p>He lost both of his matches in the United Cup for Spain in the leadup and scraped through the first round against Jack Draper when the young Briton suffered cramping on a hot afternoon.</p>.<p>Though Nadal has won only two matches since the US Open in September, the 36-year-old found positives out of his trip to Australia.</p>.<p>"I mean, hopefully it's nothing too bad. In the end (it has) been three positive weeks in terms of practice," he told reporters.</p>.<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/raducanu-faces-gauff-in-australian-open-second-round-blockbuster-1182148.html" target="_blank">Raducanu faces Gauff in Australian Open second-round blockbuster</a></strong></p>.<p>"So I really hope that (injury) doesn't put me out of the court for a long time, because then it's tough to make all the recovery again.</p>.<p>"It's not only the recovery. It's all the amount of work that you need to put together to come back at a decent level."</p>.<p>With Nadal eliminated, his great rival Novak Djokovic can match the Spaniard's 22 Grand Slam titles with a 10th crown at Melbourne Park.</p>.<p>"In the end, I can't complain about my life at all," said Nadal.</p>.<p>"So just in terms of sports and in terms of injuries and tough moments, I mean, that's another one.</p>.<p>"Just can't say that I am not destroyed mentally at this time, because I will be lying."</p>.<p>Nadal has long feared injuries will curtail his career but always found a way back from the low points to achieve more success.</p>.<p>He left no-one in doubt he still had the fuel for another comeback.</p>.<p>"It's a very simple thing: I like what I do. I like playing tennis," he said.</p>.<p>"I know it's not forever. I like to feel myself competitive. I like to fight for the things that I have been fighting for almost half of my life or even more.</p>.<p>"It's not that complicated to understand."</p>