This archive report was first published on 6 January 2022.
On January 6, 2022, Rafael Nadal had little sympathy for long-time rival Novak Djokovic, who was facing deportation from Australia after his visa was cancelled for failing to meet strict pandemic entry requirements.
The world number one had arrived in Melbourne late on Wednesday, but was stopped by border officials and had his visa cancelled. Djokovic, a vaccine sceptic, faces deportation but has launched a court challenge to stay in the country and play at this month's Australian Open.
Nadal, who contracted Covid last month, said he was a big believer in getting vaccinated to stem the pandemic, in which 'a lot of people had been dying'. He added that if you are vaccinated, you can play in the Australian Open and everywhere, and the world has been suffering enough to not follow the rules.
“He made his own decisions and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but then there are some consequences,” Nadal said of Djokovic.
News of Djokovic's exemption sparked outrage in Australia, where families have been suffering a lot during the last two years with all the pandemic. Nadal said he understood the reaction, adding that it's normal for people to get frustrated with the case.
The Australian Open starts on January 17, and if Djokovic does not play, Russian world number two Daniil Medvedev will be the top seed. Medvedev said his views on the saga were 'quite straightforward', adding that if Djokovic has an exemption, he should be allowed to play.
Italian world number seven Matteo Berrettini expressed 'some sympathy' for Djokovic's predicament, but understood the backlash in Australia. Berrettini said that nobody wants to be in that situation, but can understand why Australian people feel the way they do.
