Nadal: Slam will be success – with or without Novak
RAFA NADAL has insisted tennis is bigger than any star player and the Australian Open will be a great success, with or without Novak Djokovic.
World No.1 Djokovic launched a final appeal at the Federal Court of Australia overnight to try to stay in the country and get the chance to defend his title.
Nadal said: “It’s very clear that Novak Djokovic is one of the best players in history.
“But there is not one player in history that’s more important than an event. The Australian Open is much more important than any player.
“If he’s playing or if he’s not playing, the Australian Open will be a great Australian Open with or without him.”
Nadal, the 2009 Australian Open champion, has won 20 Grand Slams, a feat he shares with Djokovic and the absent Roger Federer.
The 35-year-old Spaniard returned to action for the first time since August last week and won his 89th ATP Tour title at a warm-up event in Melbourne. He had been sidelined for nearly four months with a foot injury.
He said: “Players come and go, and other players are coming.
“Roger, Novak, myself, Bjorn Borg who was amazing in his time, tennis will keep going.”
Nadal (right) said he was delighted to be free of injury and illness and was excited about competing in Melbourne.
His preparations for the Australian Open were interrupted last month when he tested positive for Covid-19.
But Nadal, who was “very sick” for a few days, wants 2022 to be all about tennis.
“I came here just with the clear goal to be back on the Tour,” Nadal told reporters.
“That’s the most important thing.
“Then if I am able to win matches, be improving every single day, fantastic. I’m excited about playing again in a Grand Slam here in Australia.”
Meanwhile, Aussie No.1 Alex de Minaur said of Djokovic: “I think this whole situation has taken a lot of spotlight away from us competitors. We’re here to play the Australian Open.”
And asked if Djokovic was at fault over attempting to get into Australia without a vaccine, the world No.34 added: “Look, Australians have gone through a lot. There’s no secret about that.
“They’ve had it very tough. They’ve done a lot of work to protect themselves and their borders.
“If you wanted to come into the country, you had to be double vaccinated. It was up to him, his choices, his judgment.”