MELBOURNE – It’s been a long road back to elite tennis Mackenzie McDonaldand his victory over Defending champion Rafael Nadal In the Australian Open showed how much things have changed for the 27-year-old Californian, who was a collegiate star at UCLA.
To understand McDonald’s journey, go back to the 2019 French Open, where he tore a tendon in his hamstring three games in a doubles match in the first round. Surgery for it left him unable to walk for several weeks, leaving McDonald with what he describes as a “massive scar.” The whole episode also served as a “big wake-up call,” he says.
When he returned to Roland Garros in 2020 and his ranking dropped to 236th, McDonald got his first opportunity to face Nadal. McDonald talked about having fun before that – then walked out and lost 6-1 6-0 6-3.
Fast forward to this week at Melbourne Park, where McDonald saw his Rematch against 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal on Wednesday in a very different light than that first meeting less than 2 1/2 years ago in Paris.
“Before, I wasn’t really able to beat a guy like that — or even believe I could,” McDonald said in an interview with The Associated Press after going 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win in the second round against Nadal, who was already way down the scoreboard when he sought medical attention late in the second set for an injured left hip flexor.
“I believed in it more — and showed it,” said McDonald, who won the 2016 NCAA singles and doubles titles. “I was more on a mission than on vacation.”
He was twice in the fourth round of major tournaments, in Wimbledon in 2018 and at the Australian Open in 2021.
McDonald, now at No. 65, will be looking to go back at least as far when he defeats Japan’s Yoshihito Nishioka (No. 31) beginning Thursday).
McDonald is part of a group of US men who advanced to the third round, many by unexpected victories including Jenson Brooksby – who defeated No. 2 seed Casper Ruud on Thursday – Tommy Paul, Ben Shelton, JJ Wolf and Michael Mmoh .
Coached by 2005 US Open semi-finalist Robby Ginepri, McDonald used his flat groundstrokes to great effect on the slower hard court at Rod Laver Arena. Top-seeded Nadal praised the American for “playing at a great level”.
McDonald became the youngest US man to recently claim a win over Nadal after Taylor Fritz at Indian Wells, Frances Tiafoe at the US Open and Paul at the Paris Masters.
McDonald said Tiafoe told him, “Get it!” ahead of Wednesday’s game, while Paul offered “quite a lot” of advice during a FaceTime chat the night before.
McDonald spoke to people at home after a win he considers “high” on his list of tennis achievements.
“Everyone is super proud and excited for me … but of course there’s still a match to play,” McDonald said, “so I need to refocus.”
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