The umpteenth chapter of the Novak Djokovic case in Australia has a new protagonist and this was the Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal, who was forceful in new statements ahead of the start of the first major tournament of the year. Nadal commented that no tennis player, whoever he is, can be above a tournament and more so if it is the first Grand Slam of the 2022.
“The Australian Open is much more important than any one player. If he finally plays, fine. If he doesn’t play, the Australian Open will be a great Australian Open with or without him. That is my point of view”, added the number six in the ATP Ranking.
“But there is no player in history that is more important than an event, right? Players stay and then they leave, and other players come. No one, not even Roger or Novak or myself or Bjorn Borg, who was amazing in his day; tennis continues”. Nadal highlighted to the press.
After training normally on Australian soil, Djokovic was arrested again and taken to a hotel to await the final decision in his case. But, what is is that the panorama looks quite gray for the Serbian tennis player.
Only two days of the start of the contest, the number one in the world stole the attention of all the press and has caused some controversy in some athletes and/or other countries. In addition to putting his image at risk in the rest of the competitions. However, Nadal once again responded forcefully about what the Serb may suffer from now on.
“About his image? I mean, everyone chooses their path. I respect him as a person, of course, and as an athlete, without a doubt. I respect him a lot, don’t I? I wish him well. I respect him a lot, although I do not agree with many things he has done in recent weeks”, pointed out the champion of the Melbourne Summer Set.
Nadal, for his part , is scheduled to debut in the first round tomorrow when he faces the American Marcos Giron and in theory, he is the main favorite to win the Australian Open, after being crowned in the Melbourne Summer Set.
Also Read:
Rafa Nadal spoke out in the Novak Djokovic case: “I would prefer that he not be there, but justice has spoken and I respect the decisions
Rafael Nadal applauded the judge’s decision on the Novak Djokovic case