Serbian refuses to publicly explain whether or not he has been vaccinated, but has previously expressed his opposition to being inoculated against the coronavirus.
The Spanish tennis star, Rafael Nadalsaid this Thursday that the Serbian Novak Djokovic must assume the consequences of not having been vaccinated against the coronavirus and that “I knew the conditions” to be in the Australian Open.
The world tennis number one was detained by border police upon arrival in Australia on Wednesday, and his visa was canceled for failing to meet COVID-19 vaccination requirements to enter the country.
Djokovic, who can be expelled from the country, filed an appeal to be able to stay and play the Australian Open from January 17, where both he and the Spaniard aspire to win a 21st title of the Grand Slam.
So far, he has managed to postpone his expulsion, at least until a court hearing on Monday.
Nadal contracted the covid last month and affirms that the vaccine is the best way to stop a pandemic that “has caused the death of so many people.”
“I had the covid, I was vaccinated twice. If this is done, you have no problem playing here. That’s the only thing that’s clear, ”he said in Melbourne, after winning his first singles match on the ATP circuit in 2022.
“For me the only thing clear is that if you have been vaccinated, you can play the Open de Australia and anywhere, and in my opinion the world has suffered enough not to follow the rules, ”Nadal explained.
Djokovic “has made its own decisions, and everyone is free to do it, but that has some consequences, “added the Spanish tennis player.
“I certainly don’t like this situation, and in a way I feel sorry for him,” he added.
Djokovic refuses to publicly explain whether or not he has been vaccinated, but He has previously expressed his opposition to being inoculated against the coronavirus.
Return with triumph
Nadal returned to the official individual competition this Thursday after six months off due to injury and after having overcome a covid that he described as “exhausting.”
The 35-year-old Majorcan tennis player, current world number 6, won 6-2 and 7-5 to Lithuanian Ricardas Berankis, 104th in the ranking, in his first official match since August 2021.
After easily taking the first set, Nadal distanced himself 5-2 in the second, but his rival came to equalize 5-5, before the Spaniard took the next two games and put out the beginning of fire.
“It is impossible to be perfectly confident after an injury of about six months,” he explained.
Nadal’s next rival in Melbourne will be Dutch Tallon Griekspoor (65th), in the quarterfinals.
With a foot injury since Roland Garros, Nadal had resigned from Wimbledon and later ended his season after playing two games in Washington in August. He returned to the slopes in December at an exhibition tournament in Abu Dhabi, where shortly after he announced his positive for covid-19.
“He was exhausted and had a fever”he explained this Thursday. “I stayed in bed for two days without being able to move because I was very ill and had a fever,” he added.
Nadal is now “rather happy” with his physical condition, ten days away from the first Grand Slam of the season. (D)
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