Rafael Nadal: If Djokovic Wanted To Play The Australian Open, He Could Have
Rafael Nadal met the press for the first time since Novak Djokovic visa cancellation, and the former No. 1 said that if the Serb wanted to play in Melbourne, he could have. The only thing stopping him was himself by not getting the vaccination.
“From my point of view, that’s the only thing that I can say is I believe in what the people who knows about medicine says, and if the people says that we need to get vaccinated, we need to get the vaccine. That’s my point of view,” he said earlier today.
“I went through the COVID. I have been vaccinated twice. If you do this, you don’t have any problem to play here. That’s the only clear thing.
“The only for me clear thing is if you are vaccinated, you can play in the Australian Open and everywhere, and the world in my opinion have been suffering enough to not follow the rules.
“I feel everyone have to do whatever, whatever feels that is good for him. But there are rules, and if you don’t want to get the vaccine, then you can have some troubles. That’s the thing.
“I think if he wanted, he would be playing here in Australia without a problem,” he added. “He made his own decisions, and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but then there are some consequences.
“Of course I don’t like the situation that is happening. In some way I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, so he makes his own decision.”
Nadal, who beat Ricardis Berankis is his first match since August, will play the upset-minded Tallon Griekspoor tonight on Rod Laver Arena at the Melbourne warm-up event.
“Super happy to be back in competition. It’s difficult to imagine a better place than here the beginning of the season in Australia,” Nadal said. “It’s only the first match after a while. Honestly, I have been going through some difficult, challenging moments the past year-and-a-half, but in general terms I am super happy to be back in competition.
“Of course it’s important to start with a victory, gives me the chance to play another time tomorrow and that’s the main thing at this moment because I didn’t play for such a long time.”
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