Rafael Nadal faced an unusual situation during his opening match at the Australian Open 2023 against Jack Draper.The Spaniard, who is defending his Australian Open title at the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne, noticed that his main racquet had gone missing after holding on to his service game 4-3 in the first set.Rafael Nadal soon seemed to realize that the ball boy had mistakenly taken his racquet, which the Spaniard needed at that time."It’s this one for the string and not that one. This one is for the string. I need the racquet back," the 22-time Slam winner notified the chair umpire.Rafael Nadal further updated his opponent Draper about the situation before asserting that he was going to carry on with his back-up racquet."The ball boy take my racquet," Nadal said, "Yeah, yeah. I’m going."The amusing mix-up, however, drew hilarious reactions from tennis fans."Rafa’s racquet is being listed on eBay as we speak," one fan joked.💨No Match Windy, No?@nomatchwindynoRafa’s racquet is being listed on eBay as we speak 343Rafa’s racquet is being listed on eBay as we speak 😂😂😂Another fan commended him for keeping his cool during the unexpected situation."Many players won't react the way Rafa did... Ever since the Rafa Jr arrives, dad Rafa is just on another level of coolness. Imagine someone took Kyrgios racket?" the fan wondered.TheThingAbout.MattHarryNiko@MattHarryNikoMany players won't react the way Rafa did... Ever since the Rafa Jr arrives, dad Rafa is just on another level of coolness. Imagine someone took Kyrgios racket? twitter.com/AustralianOpen…#AusOpen@AustralianOpen"The ballboy took my racquet" A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO20231110155"The ballboy took my racquet" 😂A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO2023 https://t.co/T4xqN4ZLBdMany players won't react the way Rafa did... Ever since the Rafa Jr arrives, dad Rafa is just on another level of coolness. Imagine someone took Kyrgios racket? 😆😆😆😆😆 twitter.com/AustralianOpen…Here are a few more reactions from fans:Regina✨@rubliever97@AustralianOpen Ball boy saw an opportunity and took it.1@AustralianOpen Ball boy saw an opportunity and took it.Sand dan Glokta@thestoicboi@AustralianOpen Was it Djoker in disguise?81@AustralianOpen Was it Djoker in disguise?😷 Frothy 🐀@Frothy_boy'Dog ate my homework', hold my #ausopen twitter.com/AustralianOpen…#AusOpen@AustralianOpen"The ballboy took my racquet" A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO20231113155"The ballboy took my racquet" 😂A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO2023 https://t.co/T4xqN4ZLBd'Dog ate my homework', hold my 🍺 #ausopen twitter.com/AustralianOpen…Colette Garnaut@ColetteGarnautAll class! @RafaelNadal chooses to see the funny side of the innocent mistake, takes it like the true champ that he is, & gets on with the task at hand. So many players would've lost their minds & gone nuts in this situation. #AusOpen #AO2023 twitter.com/AustralianOpen…#AusOpen@AustralianOpen"The ballboy took my racquet" A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO202381"The ballboy took my racquet" 😂A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO2023 https://t.co/T4xqN4ZLBdAll class! @RafaelNadal chooses to see the funny side of the innocent mistake, takes it like the true champ that he is, & gets on with the task at hand. So many players would've lost their minds & gone nuts in this situation. #AusOpen #AO2023 twitter.com/AustralianOpen…ℂ𝕒𝕡𝕣𝕚𝕔𝕠𝕣𝕟 𝕊ℤℕ ♑️@E_Teezey1286Our chaotic king twitter.com/australianopen…#AusOpen@AustralianOpen"The ballboy took my racquet" A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO20231120156"The ballboy took my racquet" 😂A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO2023 https://t.co/T4xqN4ZLBdOur chaotic king 😅 twitter.com/australianopen…Peggy.M.Mafadza@Miss____Sue“ I need the racquet back " 🤣 twitter.com/australianopen…#AusOpen@AustralianOpen"The ballboy took my racquet" A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO20231122156"The ballboy took my racquet" 😂A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO2023 https://t.co/T4xqN4ZLBd“ I need the racquet back " 🤣 twitter.com/australianopen…Bonnie Looi@tennisprincess2@AustralianOpen Lol Sorry too funny poor my fave @RafaelNadal 🤫 Ball boy took an opportunity i dont blame him lol 🤣 #AusOpen@AustralianOpen Lol 😂 Sorry too funny poor my fave @RafaelNadal 🤫 Ball boy took an opportunity i dont blame him lol 🤣 #AusOpenⓂ️𝕚𝕜𝕖 𝔻𝕚𝕕𝕕𝕪@V_Cat1@AustralianOpen Better than touching his water bottles. He will chop you if you touch his water bottles.2@AustralianOpen Better than touching his water bottles. He will chop you if you touch his water bottles.Zoran@Dogovoreno@AustralianOpen Santa did not bring Nadal a racket.@AustralianOpen Santa did not bring Nadal a racket.😂😂😂 https://t.co/6o2wuDQeVVAkanksha Verma@AkankshaV_ermaI smell conspiracy....🤪#AusOpen #RafaelNadal𓃵 twitter.com/AustralianOpen…#AusOpen@AustralianOpen"The ballboy took my racquet" A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO20231109155"The ballboy took my racquet" 😂A definite first for Rafa!#AusOpen • #AO2023 https://t.co/T4xqN4ZLBdI smell conspiracy....🤪#AusOpen #RafaelNadal𓃵 twitter.com/AustralianOpen…Colette Garnaut@ColetteGarnaut@AustralianOpen Oops!Easy mistake when one considers how privileged & in awe the #AO2023 ballkid likely was at the opportunity to hold #RafaelNadal racquet. My young ballkid came out glowing after a 2am finish once, sooo happy, saying "I held Rafa's racquet! That was the best day of my life!"9@AustralianOpen Oops!Easy mistake when one considers how privileged & in awe the #AO2023 ballkid likely was at the opportunity to hold #RafaelNadal racquet. My young ballkid came out glowing after a 2am finish once, sooo happy, saying "I held Rafa's racquet! That was the best day of my life!"Rafael Nadal wins his first round match against Jack Draper at the Australian Open 2023Rafael Nadal defeats Jack Draper 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1 at the 2023 Ausstralian OpenRafael Nadal won a tough first-round match against rising star Jack Draper at the 2023 Australian Open. While many had predicted that the defending champion was highly likely to lose his opening encounter due to his poor run of form in recent tournaments, the 22-time Grand Slam champion managed to surprise the tennis world with his tenacity yet again. The Spaniard scored the all-important win in four sets 7-5, 2-6, 6-4, 6-1.In his on-court interview, the former World No. 1 spoke about his victory."Last year (Australian Open) have been, without a doubt, one of the most emotional tournaments of my tennis career. No doubt about that but, unfortunately (that's in the past)," the Spaniard said.So, we need to keep working. Super happy to be back here in Rod Laver Arena with the victory that I needed. The last couple of months haven't been easy for me but, yeah, hopefully this victory will help me," he continued."If we put in perspective all the situation that I went through, the last six months, I think (this has been) a very positive start. I played against one of the toughest opponents possible in the first round, being seeded (No. 1)," the 22 time Slam winner stated.He's young. He (Jack Draper) has the power. I think he has a great future in front. We're gonna see him playing a lot of years here and have great results," he concluded.