Rafael Nadal broke into the top 10 in April 2005, aged 18, after winning the Barcelona ATP 500 the day before and securing a place in the elite group.
Since then, Rafa has never left the top 10, forging one of the most remarkable records in tennis history and embracing over 900 consecutive weeks in the top 10!
However, the 36-year-old Spaniard will likely drop out of the top 10 for the first time in 18 years in March as he will have to defend 600 points for last year’s Indian Wells final.
Rafa is ranked 7th in the ATP rankings after dropping 500 points from Acapulco. With 600 fewer points on his clock, he will leave the top 10 after Indian Wells and end his incredible streak.
Nadal suffered a left hip injury in Melbourne, dropping nearly 2,000 points and sealing his faith in the top-10. The Spaniard has withdrawn from Doha and Dubai and is still absent from the training grounds ahead of the first Masters 1000 of the season.
Rafa will make a decision about Indian Wells after undergoing further tests, although he is unlikely to be able to fight for the title in the desert after so many problems since last July.
The winner of 22 major tournaments has only played 13 matches after Wimbledon, with five wins and eight losses! Rafa suffered an early defeat at the US Open and dropped four straight encounters for the first time since 2009!
Things didn’t improve at the United Cup at the start of the new season, with Nadal losing both games. Rafa arrived in Melbourne without any form, struggling with an injury for months and suffering another defeat at the Rod Laver Arena against McDonald’s.
Rafael Nadal will have less than 3000 points after Indian Wells.
The American beat the Spaniard in straight sets and handed Rafa his earliest Major defeat since 2016.
The American produced five breaks from eight opportunities and lost serve twice to emerge on top. He got off to a flying start and broke the defending champion in games 1 and 5 of the opener for 4-1 in less than 20 minutes.
Nadal closed the gap with a break in game six, and McDonald fended off a break point at 5-4 to win the set. The second set saw two consecutive breaks early in the game, and Rafa was again broken at 3-3.
The American scored an ace in the eighth game to confirm his advantage, and the Spaniard requested a medical time-out for his left hip. Rafa came off the court to receive the treatment and held on in the ninth game to extend the set despite an apparent struggle.
McDonald won the set after a forehand error by Nadal at 5-4 and closed in on the finish line. Rafa continued and gave his best in the third set despite struggling to run or hit a backhand.
He fired an ace on break point at 4-4 and held on to stay in the game. Mackenzie tied the score at 5-5 and placed a backhand winner down the line to earn a decisive break.
The American hit a service winner in the twelfth game to seal the deal and dethrone the Spaniard.
