Teller Report

Rafael Nadal's racket disappeared during the match: "The ball boy took my racket"

1/16/2023, 7:54:37 AM

It was after the first set of superstar Rafael Nadal's victory in the first round that great confusion erupted. He did not find the racket he had intended to continue playing with and it turned out that the ball boy had taken the wrong racket to re-string. - The ball boy took my racket, the Spaniard is heard saying to his British opponent Jack Draper, 21.


Rafael Nadal is through to the second round of the year's first grand slam tournament, the Australian Open.

He defeated the British Jack Draper 3-1 in sets (7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1).

But it was not a match without drama.

After the 36-year-old won the first set, it took a while before the second could get started.

Nadal was going to pick up a new racket, but couldn't find the one he intended to play with.

It turned out that the ball boy had brought the wrong racket to be re-stringed.

- It was this one that had to be re-stringed, not that other one, Nadal can be heard saying while showing off a racket.

He still played on with a different racket and although he lost the following set, he won the whole match.

In the second round, Nadal meets the 27-year-old American Mackenzie McDonald.