Australian Open 2018: Rafael Nadal's uncanny superstition unlocked

Rafael Nadal may have had to retire from his Australian Open quarterfinal match against Marin Cilic, but before that, a particular superstition of the Spaniard was unveiled on Tuesday.

The World No. 1 is known to be a person who possesses some superstitions when it comes to carrying himself on the tennis court.

A very well known superstition being that he always places his energy drinks in such a manner that the logos of the respective companies face the court and not the spectators.

Much like that, today it was found out that the Spaniard, while resuming action after a mini break between games, never hands his towel back to the ball kids until he walks past the ‘Melbourne’ sign, which is just beyond the baseline on either end of the court.

In a video that was posted by the Australian Open Twitter handle, shows Nadal making a ball kid wait until traversing his way over the ‘Melbourne’ sign.

FUN FACT! 😬@RafaelNadal doesn't hand his towel back to the #VegemiteBallkids until he walks past the @Melbourne sign. Every. Single. Time. #AusOpen pic.twitter.com/nhztbp08g4

— #AusOpen (@AustralianOpen) January 23, 2018

Coming back to the match, Nadal, started off on a bright note winning the first set 6-3, but then Cilic levelled things up by clinching the second set 6-3. Nadal won the third set tie-break but then he started to struggle and lost the fourth set and eventually had to retire when Cilic was leading 2-0 in the deciding set.

The seriousness of Nadal’s injury is yet to be found out and one can only hope that it doesn’t keep him out of action for a lengthy period. However, irrespective of who wins Australian Open, Nadal will remain World No. 1 for the time being.