“It wasn’t a pleasant feeling watching it” Novak Djokovic OPENS UP on seeing Rafael Nadal win the Australian Open 2022

“It wasn’t a pleasant feeling watching it” Novak Djokovic OPENS UP on seeing Rafael Nadal win the Australian Open 2022

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic

It needed Novak Djokovic to be deported and banned from entering the country which led to him losing his right as the defending champion at the Australian Open. Being a record 9-time champion and having won a hattrick of titles in the last 3 editions, he was the 3-time defending champion at the 2022 Australian Open but the visa debacle saw him being not allowed to participate.

Djokovic was adamant about not getting vaccinated against Covid-19 and the Australian government had made vaccinations compulsory for all foreign nationals. With the two parties at clear crossroads, it ended ugly in Australia as Novak was forced to leave the country a few hours before his first-round match at the first Grand Slam of the season.

Novak’s absence opened up the doors for others to pick up the Slam and longtime rival Rafael Nadal was not going to miss out on the situation. The Spaniard defeated World No. 2 Daniil Medvedev in a nail-biting 5 hours and 24 minutes finals coming from 2-sets down to win his 2nd Australian Open title and the record-breaking 21st career Grand Slam title moving ahead of Novak and Roger Federer.

“Of course, I was disappointed with the end result of my short stay in Australia and that I had to leave the country without competing in the Grand Slam. That’s the very reason why I was there. I wasn’t enjoying the tournament knowing that I wasn’t able to be there. The final I was trying not to watch it. But in my house, everyone at home was watching it, so I had to follow it, including my wife and kids. So I had to follow it.

“Congratulation to Rafa. He’s an amazing fighter and one of the biggest wins of his career. Coming back after injury, where four or five months ago. he was on crutches and now he is winning a Grand Slam. Tons of respect for him and I don’t wanna take anything away from him. Of course, it wasn’t a pleasant feeling leaving the country the way I did and watching the tournament from far away,” said Djokovic during his post-match press conference after winning his round 1 match at the 2022 Dubai Championships.

Novak Djokovic’s participation in the 2022 French Open doubtful

Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal
Novak Djokovic and Rafael Nadal

With France set to make some changes in their policy to welcome foreign nationals, the situation around unvaccinated Djokovic’s participation remains a doubt. From the reports that have emerged, as of now, it is unlikely that the Serbian might be allowed and it will be another massive blow to his ranking and in the race to win the most Slams as Nadal is always the favourite to win the Roland Garros.

Djokovic could, however, return to the 2022 Wimbledon Championships as the UK has still not considered making vaccinations compulsory and as per the current State policy, the 6-time Wimbledon Champion who will also be the 3-time defending champion this year is welcome to play at the All-England Club.

Also Read: “I can’t enter United States” Novak Djokovic possibly out of Indian Wells and Miami Open