Tennis: "vaccinated or not, it would be good if Novak could play again" the Majors, says Nadal

"If Novak can play the Grand Slams without being vaccinated, it's a good thing," insisted the Spaniard again at a press conference, prior to the Acapulco tournament where he is engaged.

"It will affect his own history whether he can play or not. I don't know if it will affect the Grand Slams... Everyone makes their own decisions and has to live with it," added the Mallorcan, record holder for most wins in Majors for men (21) ahead of Roger Federer and Djokovic (20).

After his resounding expulsion from Australia, where he had requested, on the grounds of having contracted covid a few weeks earlier, an exemption which was ultimately never granted to him, the 34-year-old Serb will return to the courts at Dubai from Monday, the United Arab Emirates not requiring the obligation to be vaccinated.

This week, "Djoko" came out of his silence, for the BBC and then Serbian television, reaffirming that he was not "anti-vax" but saying he was determined to continue to "control what we inject" into his body.

He also said he was "ready to pay the price" for his convictions even if it should cost him his participation in the three other major tournaments this season, Roland-Garros (May 22-June 5), Wimbledon (June 27-July 10 ), the US Open (August 29-September 11).

"Nole" is on the entry list for the Indian Wells Masters 1000 (March 7-20).

But he does not have the right to enter American territory without being vaccinated.

The meeting in the Californian desert is on the program for Nadal and the rest of the ATP elite, apart from Federer who is still treating a knee.

Hug between Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic after their match at Roland-Garros, June 11, 2021 in Paris MARTIN BUREAU AFP / Archives

For Nadal, this requires intense preparation in Acapulco on Monday, since Russian Daniil Medvedev (world No.2) will also be present - whom he beat in the final in Melbourne -, German Alexander Zverev defending champion (No. .3), the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas (N.4) and the Italian Matteo Berretini (N.6).

In the first round, Nadal will be opposed to the American Reilly Opelka, winner of the Dallas tournament a week ago.

© 2022 AFP