Mackenzie McDonald’s victory over Rafael Nadal at the Australian Open was a long-awaited moment for the 27-year-old Californian. His journey to elite-level tennis has been filled with obstacles, including a significant setback in 2019 when he tore a hamstring tendon during a doubles match at the French Open. The injury resulted in surgery and several weeks of being unable to walk, leaving McDonald with a “massive scar.” This experience served as a wake-up call for the player, who had to work hard to regain his footing in the sport.

In 2020, McDonald returned to Roland Garros with a ranking of 236th and faced Nadal for the first time. Despite speaking about having fun, McDonald lost the match 6-1, 6-0, 6-3. However, this defeat only served as motivation for McDonald to work harder and come back stronger.

Fast-forward to this week at Melbourne Park, McDonald viewed his rematch against the 22-time Grand Slam champion Nadal in a far different light than that initial meeting less than 2 1/2 years ago in Paris. McDonald had a newfound belief in his abilities and a clear mission in mind, stating “Before, I wasn’t really up to beating a guy like that — or even believing I could,” he said in an interview with The Associated Press after completing the 6-4, 6-4, 7-5 win against Nadal. “I believed it more — and showed that,” McDonald stated confidently.

McDonald had previously reached the fourth round at major tournaments, at Wimbledon in 2018 and the Australian Open in 2021. Now ranked 65th, McDonald will continue to strive for success as he takes on No. 31 seed Yoshihito Nishioka of Japan in the third round on Court 3 in the afternoon on Friday in Melbourne.

McDonald’s victory over Nadal is a testament to his hard work and determination, and serves as a reminder that even when faced with significant obstacles, it is possible to overcome them and achieve great things.