Expedited! Rafael Nadal started his Australian fortnight in the most beautiful way with a quiet and quick victory (in 1h49) against the American Marcos Giron (6-1, 6-4, 6-2) in the first round of the Major.
Yet at a press conference, the Spaniard said he was “tired”. But he was not because of his match, or the consequences of the Covid-19 which he suffered in December, but by the questions and the psychodrama around the Djokovic affair. “I’m tired of talking about it,” said the current world number 5.
But Nadal’s word is precious, especially when it comes to evoking his rival. The two tennis players were in the running to become the first player to win a 21st Grand Slam title, in Melbourne. A few hours before the start of the tournament, the Serbian world number one therefore had to leave Australia after losing a long legal battle to obtain the reinstatement of his visa following its cancellation due to his non-vaccination against the coronavirus.
The day before, Saturday, the Mallorcan had surprised everyone by declaring that “the Australian Open will be a great Australian Open with or without him (Editor’s note: speaking of Djokovic). “I disagree with a lot of things he’s done in the last two weeks,” he said at the time.
“I will never be against what justice says”
Nadal therefore returned on Monday to this grotesque situation which risks marking the world of tennis for a long time and perhaps the career of his best enemy. “Almost a week ago, when he won in the first instance, he was able to get his visa back and was able to train, recalled the person concerned. I said that justice had spoken. Yesterday (Sunday), justice said something else. I will never be against what justice says. »
Rafael Nadal added that Novak Djokovic was not the only one to blame for this ‘mess’. “Obviously he is one of those responsible, continues the Spaniard. But he’s not the only one who’s done some probably bad things in this case. Of course, there are others responsible for all this terrible situation that we have been facing for the past two weeks. I think the situation has been a disaster. »
The 35-year-old Spaniard also assured that he would have preferred the title holder, whom he often beat in anthology matches in Australia, to participate in the first Grand Slam tournament of the year. “The ideal situation in the world of sport is when the best players are on the pitch and playing the most important events,” Nadal said. So the best for everyone would have been for Novak to be present. »
Roger Federer still recovering, Novak Djokovic sent back to Spain, Rafael Nadal is now the only one who can win a 21st Grand Slam title in Australia.
