Ruud, Fritz, Zverev join Nadal in early exit

MELBOURNE – Casper Ruud on Thursday joined Rafael Nadal in making a stunning second-round exit from the Australian Open, another boost to Novak Djokovic’s bid for a 22nd Grand Slam title.

On a bad day for some of the leading men’s players, Ruud was always struggling against hard-hitting Jenson Brooksby, the second seed from Norway going down in four sets.

Soon after, Taylor Fritz and Alexander Zverev also became high-profile casualties.

Defending champion Nadal limped out of the tournament on day three in a shock defeat to Mackenzie McDonald and on day four it was another American who ousted Ruud.

The top two seeds are now gone in the first week at Melbourne Park, with Nadal saying on Thursday he will be out for about six to eight weeks with his hip injury.

The 39th-ranked Brooksby, who is on his Australian Open debut, will face Tommy Paul in round three after his fellow American beat Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina in five sets.

“First and foremost, Casper is a warrior, I knew it would be a great battle out there,” said Brooksby, 22, having prevailed 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (4/7), 6-2.

“I’m just really proud of my mental resolve after the third-set battle didn’t go my way, and to turn it around.”

Ruud, who could have become world number one in Melbourne, refused to blame an abdominal injury.

“I gave it my all, but in the fourth set especially it wasn’t enough,” he said.

Eighth seed Fritz was also on his way home after wildcard local hope Alexei Popyrin beat him 6-7 (4/7), 7-6 (7/2), 6-4, 6-7 (6/8), 6-2.

“This is a dream and I don’t want to wake up at all,” said Popyrin, who was reduced to tears by the crowd chanting his name.

Zverev, the 12th seed, suffered another setback on his return from serious injury as he lost to 107th-ranked Michael Mmoh.

Safely into round three of a men’s draw which was already missing injured world number one Carlos Alcaraz are No. 4 Novak Djokovic, Russia’s fifth-seeded Andrey Rublev and ninth seed Holger Rune.