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Spain’s Rafael Nadal is expected to be sidelined for six to eight weeks with a hip injury that hampered him during his exit from the Australian Open.

The 22-time Grand Slam champion struggled to move in a 6-4 6-4 7-5 defeat by American Mackenzie McDonald in the second round yesterday.

Nadal, 36, had an MRI scan on his left hip in Melbourne and it showed a tear in his left psoas muscle.