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With the Australian Open Set to Begin, All Eyes Are on Rafael Nadal

The defending champion, Nadal has lost six of his last seven tour singles matches and is struggling with his timing, confidence and composure. But don’t count him out.

Rafael Nadal is the top-seeded men’s player in the 2023 Australian Open, which starts on Monday.Credit...Kelly Defina/Getty Images

MELBOURNE, Australia — The first collective gasp of this year’s Australian Open came Thursday afternoon, four days before the tournament officially begins.

The hubbub came at the start of the men’s singles draw when Jack Draper’s name appeared in the second slot in the 128-man field.