Watch: ‘Ball boy took my racquet’, bewildered Nadal tells chair umpire | Tennis News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: Rafael Nadal’s first round match at the Australian Open against Britain’s Jack Draper on Monday witnessed a hilarious moment that might have happened for the first time in tennis history.
The bizarre incident took place between games in the first set when the Spanish great was heard saying to chair umpire that “the ball boy took my racquet” that forced the match into a brief halt.
The bizarre incident took place between games in the first set when the Spanish great was heard saying to chair umpire that “the ball boy took my racquet” that forced the match into a brief halt.
“The ballboy took my racquet” ????A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO2023 https://t.co/T4xqN4ZLBd
— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) 1673843138000
“I need the racquet back,” the 36-year-old defending champion, looking bewildered, told the chair umpire.
It was not immediately clear what happened, but it seems that Nadal asked for his racquet to be restrung, only for the ball boy to take the wrong one.
“The ball boy took my racquet!” a smiling Nadal shouted to Draper, explaining what the hold-up was.
It did not overly affect the 22-time Grand Slam champion as he went on to win the match, despite a second-set wobble, 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.
“Not distracting, just a funny situation,” Nadal told Eurosport later.
“I said ‘I need the stringer’, but I needed the stringer to look at the other racquets.
“So he picked up my racquet I was ready to play (with). But okay, he took it and no problem at all.”
Nadal next plays the American Mackenzie McDonald at Melbourne Park.
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