Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal make painful exits

AUSTRALIAN OPEN: It’s always painful when your favorite players lose but even more so when they go down with an injury.

That was the case for both Andy Roddick and Rafael Nadal who both lost in the quarterfinals of the Australian Open when their bodies betrayed them.

Andy, still seeking hi first title in Melbourne, was in great form after winning the warm-up tournament in Sydney a few weeks ago and he entered his match Wednesday on an 11 match winning streak. But he struggled with a shoulder injury and lost to Marin Cilic 7-6 (4), 6-3, 3-6, 2-6, 6-3.

Who knows how things would have gone had Andy not been playing hurt – or if he had won that first set!

There were no set wins for defending champ Rafael Nadal who couldn’t even finish his match against Britain’s Andy Murray. Nadal, who struggled with bad knees for much of last season, had a flair-up against Murry and finally retired while trailing 6-3, 7-6, 3-o.

Nadal said he didn’t want to risk more damage by playing and potentially having to spend long periods off the tour with knee tendinitis.

“Similar thing that I had last year,” Nadal said of the pain. “It was impossible to win the match.”

I think Murray was very tender and sweet in consoling Rafa after the match. I have a feeling they just felt like making out right there and then! Did I really just write that?

Oh, grow up Greg!