‘The Ballboy Took My Racquet’: Rafael Nadal Left Baffled by Missing Racquet

The 22-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal was amused when his racquet vanished during his Australian Open 2023 opening against Jack Draper of the United Kingdom.

A racquet belonging to Rafael Nadal, a 22-time Grand Slam champion, went lost during his Australian Open 2023 opening against Jack Draper of the United Kingdom.

When did it happen?

The incident happened in the first set as Nadal prepared to receive Draper’s serve with a 4-3 lead. The Spaniard was unable to locate his racquet and subsequently laughed when he realized he had mistakenly assumed a ballboy had picked it up. “I need the racquet back, ballboy took my racquet,” he told the umpire.

It was later discovered that the ballboy had unintentionally stolen the racquet Nadal was using to get it restrung. After the commotion surrounding the incident was cleared up, the racquet was also given back to Nadal.

“That’s a big mistake,” John Fitzgerald, a commentator for the Australian Open, remarked on Channel 9.

Result of the match

Nadal beat Draper 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 in three hours and 41 minutes, although it was an unexpectedly difficult match for him. However, Nadal was unstoppable on Monday as he put on a commendable effort to win the match despite Draper’s apparent determination in the first set and eventual victory in the second. In the upcoming round, he will now compete against Mackenzie McDonald.

“Very exciting, a new beginning, just super-happy to be back at Rod Laver with a victory I needed,” Nadal said after the match.

“Last couple of months have not been easy for me… a very positive start.”

Nadal defeated Danil Medvedev in the championship match to claim the 2022 event.

Read Also: Devastated’ Nick Kyrgios Pulls out of Australian Open with a Knee Injury