The 2023 Australian Open is entering its second week, and already, we have witnessed nothing short of the best of elite tennis.

Last year’s winner, Rafael Nadal, suffered a shock exit on Wednesday after losing to Mackenzie McDonald 6-4 6-4 7-5  in the second round of the event. During the match, it was quite obvious that the Spanish was not himself as he was dealing with an injury. After the match, it was confirmed that he had a hip flexor injury and would be forced to miss the next six to eight weeks of the season. 

He should be back on the court just in time to defend his French Open title. 

Another player who exited the event this past week was Daniil Medvedev. The Russian, who lost to Nadal in the final last year, was defeated in the third round by 22-year-old Sebastian Korda 7-6 (9-7) 6-3 7-6 (7-4). Medvedev joins the list of other top-ranked men like Casper Ruud and Cameron Norrie to leave the event. 

Iga Swiatek’s loss to Elena Rybakina in the fourth round of the event on Sunday is one of the biggest upsets in the event so far. The world number one was beaten in straight sets, losing 6-4 6-4. The Australian Open is one of two grand slams Swiatek did not win last year, and after the match, she revealed that she wanted to win it “a little too hard.” 

American Coco Gauff also suffered defeat in the fourth round against Jelena Ostapenko. The 18-year-old, who played her first Grand Slam quarterfinal match last year at the US Open, was unable to overpower her opponent, losing the game 7-5 6-3. Many people had hoped for a Swiatek-Gauff quarterfinal game, but instead, we would be seeing Rybakina take on Ostapenko in the QF. 

Leon Osamor