'Doesn't care much': Rafa Nadal accidentally burns his wife again at Australian Open

Rafael Nadal just can’t help putting his foot in it with his wife at the Australian Open.

In 2017 he famously said Xisca Perello had finally received a ‘wildcard’ to come Down Under with him after 12 years together.

‘OH MY GOD’: Nadal kisses ball girl in beautiful Aus Open moment

‘THAT’S IT’: Nadal responds to Kyrgios' brutal on-court mockery

The accidental put-down went viral around the world, but Nadal made amends with a sweet moment at last year’s Australian Open.

“After 14 years together she doesn’t need wildcards at all,” he said in an on-court interview with Jim Courier.

“She’s coming wherever she wants. That’s how it works.”

However it looks like Nadal might have accidentally done it again.

While discussing his nice moment with a ball girl on Thursday night in which he planted a kiss on her cheek after hitting her with a wayward forehand, interviewer Sam Groth told Nadal not to worry about his wife.

To which Nadal replied: “Oh no I’m not worried at all.”

“Probably after 15 years she doesn’t care much.”

Xisca appeared to be a little stunned by the comment as the crowd collectively laughed and gasped at the same time.

Nadal quickly moved on and discussed how scary it was when he saw the ball girl get hit.

"I was so scared for her," he said.

"The ball was quick and straight on her. Super brave girl."

Nadal’s sweet moment with ball girl

The Spanish legend, hunting a record-equalling 20th grand slam title at Melbourne Park, brushed aside determined Argentine Federico Delbonis 6-3 7-6 (7-5) 6-1.

But as he honed in on the straight-sets win, he inadvertently struck a wayward shot into the head of a ball girl while stretching for a Delbonis serve at 4-1 in the third set.

Nadal rushed to check on the child's well-being and even planted a peck on her cheek after she gave him a 'thumbs up' to confirm she was OK.

Spurned break point chances from Nadal - who converted just three of 20 on Delbonis' serve - dragged the Rod Laver Arena clash out to two-and-a-half hours.

"I lost a lot of opportunities on break points," Nadal said as he extended his career record over Delbonis to 4-0.

"I found a way to finally win that second set and in the third, I think I played a little bit more relaxed."

Countryman Pablo Carreno Busta now awaits Nadal in the last 32 before a potential mouth-watering fourth-round meeting with local hope Nick Kyrgios.

The duo have long-butted heads and Kyrgios may have stoked the flames of their discontent by mimicking Nadal's serve during his second-round win over French journeyman Gilles Simon.

"I really don't care," Nadal tersely told a journalist when informed of Kyrgios' impression.

"I am here to play tennis. Honestly, I don't care at all. If was funny, good."

with AAP