3 times Rafael Nadal retired from a Grand Slam match due to injury

#2 Australian Open 2018

Nadal struggling with a leg injury in the Australian Open 2018 quarter-finals

It was déjà vu for Rafael Nadal as he was forced to retire in the quarter-finals against Marin Cilic in 2018, just like in 2010 quarter-finals against Andy Murray. The Spaniard's hopes of Australian Open glory faded as he couldn't compete any more in this year;s Australian Open and retired while trailing in the fifth set in the quarterfinal match. The scoreline read 6-3, 3-6, 7-6, 2-6, 0-2 for Nadal when he chose to retire from the match.

Nadal couldn't convert 5 break points in the first game of the final set before Cilic broke his serve. The 32-year-old then went on to shake hands with the umpire and Marin Cilic. Nadal was disappointed and angry as he threw the headband into his kit bag.

Nadal felt a muscle pain in the upper right leg during the third set but he opted to continue playing. It only got worse as the fourth set progressed, but he didn't realize then how bad it was.

Nadal said, "Tough moments, not for the first time here. I am a positive person, but today was an opportunity to be in the semi-finals of an important title for me. It's really tough to accept."