Rafael Nadal ends up with a bloody nose as he hits himself in the face with his racquet at US Open

Shocking moment tennis legend Rafael Nadal ends up with a bloody nose as he hits himself in the face with his racquet at the US Open

Nadal was playing Italian Fabio Fognini in the second round of the US Open
A forehand shot went wrong and his racquet bounced up and hit his face
Nadal required treatment to a cut on his nose but was able to continue
He ultimately won against the Italian to book his place in the third round

By Josh Alston For Daily Mail Australia

Published: 05:51 BST, 2 September 2022 | Updated: 05:51 BST, 2 September 2022

Rafa Nadal’s US Open campaign remains on track despite a freak accident today that saw the Spanish champion smash himself in the face with his own tennis racquet.

Holding a 3-0 lead in the fourth set and a two sets to one lead over Italian Fabio Fognini, Nadal suffered the shocking self-inflicted blow when a forehand went wrong.

Rafael Nadal jogando agora pelo Aberto dos EUA, quarto set contra Fabio Fognini. Conseguiu acertar o próprio nariz com uma raquetada, mas já estancaram o sangramento e a partida foi retomada. https://t.co/Egeg3iiH3l

— Edu Cesar (Papo de Bola) (@papodebola) September 2, 2022

Nadal is left bleeding from a cut on his nose after hitting himself with his own racquet by accident in his match against Italian Fabio Fognini at the US Open

His racquet hit the acrylic hard court at Flushing Meadows and rebounded back into his face, leaving him dazed and bleeding from a cut on his nose.

Nadal had to lie down as he received treatment on the court and returned to action sporting a pink band aid across his nose.

A totally strange night. Nadal finally cruising 3-0 in the fourth, just whacked himself in the face with the racquet. Trainer out. Cut across the nose. Is it Halloween? What a bizarre match.

— Full Dissident (@hbryant42) September 2, 2022

Hope Rafael Nadal is ok. He just had a freak accident on the court where his racket hit the court and bounced back and struck his nose. Nadal, bloodied, walked to the net and then laid down flat on his back. After being treated, he’s up.

— Ohm Youngmisuk (@NotoriousOHM) September 2, 2022

The legendary player was quick to bounce back from the bizarre injury and stormed away from Fognini to take the fourth set 6-1 and claim his spot in the third round.

The Spanish champion has 22 grand slam titles, the most in history, with his most recent a gut-busting effort to defy injury and come from two sets down to beat Russian world No.1 Daniil Medvedev.

With Novak Djokovic barred from the US Open because of his vaccination status and veteran Roger Federer side-lined with injury and being no certainty to return, Nadal has an opportunity to assert himself as the best of all time with a fifth US Open crown.

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