Rafael Nadal Says Novak Djokovic Knew The Risks: "He Made His Own Decisions"

Novaj Djokovic was stopped by border officials on arrival to Australia late Wednesday and his visa was cancelled for failing to meet Covid vaccine-entry requirements.

Rafael Nadal had little sympathy for long-time rival Novak Djokovic, saying on Thursday that he must face the consequences for not being vaccinated against coronavirus. The world number one was stopped by border officials on arrival to Australia late Wednesday and his visa was cancelled for failing to meet Covid vaccine-entry requirements. He faces deportation but has launched a court challenge to stay in the country and play at this month's Australian Open where both he and Nadal would be chasing a record 21st Grand Slam title.

Nadal contracted Covid last month and said he was a big believer in getting vaccinated to stem a pandemic in which "a lot of people had been dying".

"I went through the Covid, I have been vaccinated twice. If you do this, you don't have any problem to play here. That's the only clear thing," he said in Melbourne after winning his first singles match on the ATP Tour since August.

"The only for me clear thing is if you are vaccinated, you can play in the Australian Open and everywhere, and the world in my opinion have been suffering enough to not follow the rules.

"He made his own decisions, and everybody is free to take their own decisions, but then there are some consequences," he added of Djokovic.