Reactions continue to intensify following the cancellation of Novak Djokovic's visa, the Serbian player currently ranked No. 1 in the Australian Open, due to his unvaccinated status against COVID-19. This time, his rival Rafael Nadal has issued a reprimand. Nadal challenged Djokovic's anti-vaccine stance and insisted that the world’s top player should face the consequences of his refusal to get vaccinated after being ordered to return to his home country.
He commented, "Some positions seem difficult, but at the end of the day, the only thing I can say is that we went through a great challenge and many families suffered over the past two years from this pandemic,” as reported by the British site "Express." “I received the vaccine twice."
He added, "I mean, it is natural for people here in Australia to feel very frustrated about this issue because they have gone through a lot of tough lockdowns, and many people have not been able to return home." He also emphasized the need to get vaccinated since medical experts have confirmed this, pointing out that he has been vaccinated twice. He continued, "If you do that, you won't face any problems playing here. That’s the only obvious thing."
Nadal stated, "The only obvious thing for me is that if you are vaccinated, you can play in the Australian Open and everywhere; the world, in my opinion, is suffering enough not to follow the rules."
He clarified that everyone is free to make their own decisions, noting that there are consequences to those decisions. He concluded by saying, "In a way, I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he has known the circumstances for many months, so he made his own choice."
Border authorities canceled Djokovic's visa and barred him from entering to participate in the Australian Open after he was forced to wait for several hours at Melbourne Airport, despite reports that he had received an exemption granted to those who are unvaccinated. It is worth noting that the Serbian star had previously declared that he opposes mandatory vaccination for people in general, considering it a personal choice or individual freedom.
In recent months, there has been significant criticism directed at both the talented player and Australian authorities after the former announced that he would participate in the Australian Open, despite being unvaccinated. Local athletes criticized what they deemed the government's selective treatment of certain celebrities regarding vaccination, noting that the laws are clear and prohibit entry for anyone who has not received the COVID-19 vaccine!
