Left leg injury to sideline Rafael Nadal for 6-8 weeks

Rafael Nadal came up limping in the second set of his second-round loss to Mackenzie McDonald at the Australian Open Wednesday. A day later, the 22-time major champion revealed tests have shown the resulting damage will sideline him for six to eight weeks.

On Twitter, Nadal explained that he has a Grade 2 injury in the iliopsoas of his left leg.

Buenas tardes. He realizado pruebas médicas tras la derrota en el día de ayer. La resonancia magnética muestra una lesión grado 2 en el Psoas Iliaco de su pierna izquierda. Ahora toca reposo deportivo y fisioterapia anti inflamatoria. Tiempo normal de recuperación 6 a 8 semanas. pic.twitter.com/xwcKSyTzhp
— Rafa Nadal (@RafaelNadal) January 19, 2023

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The projected timeline puts his participation at Indian Wells and Miami in doubt and all but likely confirms he won't be in Dubai. Nadal was also scheduled to play Carlos Alcaraz in “The Slam” exhibition at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on March 5 leading into the Sunshine Double.

Nadal is currently ranked No. 2 and has been positioned inside the Top 10 of the ATP rankings since he first entered the elite group on April 25, 2005. He opened 2022 with his best career start when he began 20-0, before falling to Taylor Fritz in the BNP Paribas Open final.