Two sets into his delayed second-round singles match on Monday night, social media was abuzz with pending upset alerts.
It appeared, after uninspired 6-3, 6-3 setbacks, that sixth-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime of Montreal was going to become the second major upset of the 2023 Australian Open.
"I had belief in myself after winning the third set. I had come back before and I felt I could do it again. But boy, it was a difficult day," said Auger-Aliassime, who finished with 23 aces in the match that took three hours and three minutes to complete. The No. 1-seeded Nadal was visited by a trainer on the sideline, then left the court for a medical timeout and treatment on his hip. Up in the stands, his wife wiped away tears. Nadal returned to play, but was physically compromised and not his usual chase-every-ball self.
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