Rafael Nadal called Novak Djokovic’s Covid vaccination controversy in Australia ‘a circus’ and joked that he would prefer that the world No 1 tennis player didn’t play at the upcoming Australian Open.
Djokovic, who is anti-vaccination, was released from Australian immigration detention on Monday after winning a court challenge to remain in the country to pursue his bid for a record 21st Grand Slam title at the Australian Open.
In a hearing today Judge Anthony Kelly today dramatically quashed the decision to revoke his visa after ruling border guards had been ‘unreasonable’ and had not given Djokovic, 34, enough time to appeal.
‘Whether or not I agree with Djokovic on some things, justice has spoken and has said that he has the right to participate in the Australian Open,’ Nadal told Spanish radio Onda Cero on Monday.
‘I think it is the fairest decision to do so, if it has been resolved that way. I wish him the best of luck.’
However, Nadal once again defended vaccination and re-emphasised the importance of getting the jab.
‘The most important institutions in the world say that the vaccine is the way to stop this pandemic and the disaster that we have been living for the last 20 months.’
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Djokovic is hoping to enter Australia and compete at the Open – which starts on January 17 – in a bid to become the most-decorated men’s singles player of all time.
The Serb is currently level with Roger Federer and Nadal on 20 Open titles each. Federer is out of this year’s tournament with injury, while Nadal will be competing in Melbourne – he won the Melbourne Summer Set ATP event against Maxime Cressy on Sunday night.
‘On a personal level, I’d much rather he didn’t play,’ Nadal, 35, said, laughing along with his interviewer.
‘It’s sports, many interests move around it, on a general level, at an economic, advertising level. Everything is much better when the best can be playing.’
Djokovic arrived in the country to compete last week holding what he thought was a valid medical exemption to vaccination rules, stating that he had been infected with Covid last month.
But border guards rejected the documents and tore up the visa, with Djokovic thrown into detention alongside refugees while he waited for his appeal to come before the courts.