By Chris Oddo | @TheFanChild | Thursday January 6, 2021
Rafael Nadal spoke about Novak Djokovic's difficult situation with the press after his victory over Ricardas Berankis in Melbourne.
Photo Source: AP
Rafael Nadal has spoken on Novak Djokovic’s difficult circumstances (more on those in the video below the jump) regarding the denial of his visa on Thursday in Australia. The Spaniard, speaking after his season-opening victory over Ricardas Berankis in Melbourne, stated his belief that vaccination is the right thing to do for society at this point and time.
“Of course what's happening is not good for no one in my opinion,” he told reporters. “But I can't have a clear opinion on everything because I don't have all the details, honestly. Seems some rough situation, but at the end of the day the only thing that I can say is we have been going through very challenging and a lot of families have been suffering a lot during the last two years with all the pandemic."
Djokovic came to Australia a day after claiming that he had gained an “exemption permission” to play the Australian Open, but soon found himself in the middle of an explosive controversy at the Melbourne airport. Eventually, his visa was cancelled as the world was left to speculate about the exact details of Djokovic’s case. He is currently working on an appeal with his legal team.
Nadal admitted that he doesn’t know many of the details as well.
“I can't have a clear opinion on everything because I don't have all the details, honestly,” he said.
But the Spaniard went on to give his views on the importance of vaccination and listening to scientists during the pandemic.
Asked if he had encouraged Djokovic to make life easier for himself and get the vaccine, Nadal said the following: “I don't encourage no one. I feel everyone have to do whatever, whatever feels that is good for him. But there are rules, and if you don't want to get the vaccine, then you can have some troubles. That's the thing.
“Of course after a lot of people had been dying for two years, my feeling is with the vaccine is the only way to stop this pandemic. That's what the people who understands about this says, and I am no one to create a different opinion.”
Nadal told reporters that he believed that Djokovic could have been in Australia going for his tenth title, but added that the Serb has his own reasons for doing things his way.
“I think if he wanted, he would be playing here in Australia without a problem,” Nadal said. “He went through another—he made his own decisions, and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but then there are some consequences.”
The Spaniard went on to say that he does feel bad for his longtime rival.
“Of course I don't like the situation that is happening,” he said. “In some way I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the conditions since a lot of months ago, so he makes his own decision.”