Rafael Nadal, who has no special sympathy for his great rival Novak Djokovic, said on Thursday that the Serbian tennis player must bear the consequences of not having been vaccinated against the coronavirus.
The world tennis number one was detained by border police upon arrival in Australia on Wednesday, and his visa was canceled for failing to comply with the requirements regarding covid vaccination to enter the country.
Djokovic, who can be expelled from the country, filed an appeal to stay and play the Australian Open from January 17, where both he and the Spaniard aspire to win a 21st Grand Slam title.
Nadal contracted the covid last month and says 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 is the only thing that is clear,” he said in Melbourne, after winning his first individual match on the ATP tour.
“For me the only thing clear is that if you have been vaccinated, you can play the Australian Open and anywhere, and in my opinion the world has suffered enough not to follow the rules,” Nadal explained.
Djokovic “has made his own decisions, and everyone is free to do so, 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.”
Djokovic refuses to publicly explain whether or not he has been vaccinated, but has previously expressed his opposition to being inoculated against the coronavirus.
