Spectators jeered Bernard Tomic after he quit his much-anticipated first-round Australian Open clash with Rafael Nadal with a leg injury on Tuesday night.

Tomic had just dropped the first set 6-4 to the world No.1 when he called it a night.

The 21-year-old first complained of the injury very early on and the writing was on the wall when he sought a medical timeout after just three games to have treatment.

He complained of having difficulty pushing off on his left leg, but emerged a few minutes later with his left thigh strapped.

Feeling uncomfortable, Tomic discarded the strapping shortly and managed to keep pace with Nadal until the ninth game.

Facing his first break point, Tomic pushed a forehand wide to drop serve and fall behind 5-4.

Nadal consolidated the break to clinch the set after 42 minutes when Tomic sliced a backhand into the net.

Tomic advised the umpire at the changeover that he was unable to play on, drawing boos from sections of the crowd at Rod Laver Arena.

Nadal, who had to retire from his 2011 quarter-final against Spanish countryman David Ferrer with a hamstring injury, sympathised with Tomic.

“I just want to say I’m sorry for Bernard,” Nadal seed said. I hope he gets better very soon.

“I had the same situation as him in this fantastic court … I wish him all the best for the rest of the year.”

The top seed next faces another Australian youngster in Thanasi Kokkinakis on Thursday after the teenage wildcard upset higher-ranked Dutchman Igor Sijsling 7-6 (7-4) 0-6 7-6 (7-3) 6-2 on his grand slam debut earlier on Tuesday.