"He knew the rules": Nadal talks about Djokovic's situation in Australia

Australia cancels Djokovic's visa to enter the country 1:17

(CNN) ––

Rafael Nadal said he regrets Novak Djokovic's situation before the Australian Open, but added that his rival had long known the vaccination requirement to participate in the tournament.

Djokovic, who has 20 Grand Slam titles like Nadal and Roger Federer, may not be able to defend his Australian Open title after his visa to enter the country was canceled.

The tennis player was blocked at the border and told that he did not meet the entry requirements.

• Australia cancels Novak Djokovic's visa to enter the country

The 34-year-old Djokovic has not publicly disclosed his vaccination status.

However, Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison said at a press conference Thursday that Djokovic "did not have a valid medical exemption" for the vaccination requirement for people entering the country.

Djokovic and his legendary figures in Australia 0:49

Djokovic's legal team requested an urgent court order against the Australian Border Forces decision to revoke his visa.

The country's Federal Court postponed a decision until Monday on whether he will be allowed to stay in Australia or be deported, according to Reuters and the public broadcaster ABC.

"He made his own decisions. And everyone is free to make his own decisions. But then there are some consequences," Nadal, who won his first singles match since August on Thursday, told reporters in Melbourne.

advertising

• They report an error in the Australian visa of Novak Djokovic upon arrival in Melbourne

"Of course, I do not like the situation that is happening. In a way, I feel sorry for him. But at the same time, he knew the rules for many months. So he made his own decision," he added.

Nadal during the match with Ricardas Berankis, whom he beat on Thursday.

If Djokovic, a nine-time Australian Open champion, cannot compete in the tournament, it would increase Nadal's chances of winning the record 21 Grand Slam title.

Daniil Medvedev and Alexander Zverev, second and third respectively in the men's standings behind Djokovic, are also among the favorites to win in Melbourne.

"It seems like a difficult situation. But, at the end of the day, all I can say is that we have been through very difficult [times] and many families have been suffering a lot for the last two years with the whole pandemic," Nadal said.

He added: "It is normal for people here in Australia to feel very frustrated with the [Djokovic] case, because they have been through a lot of very strict lockdowns and a lot of people have not been able to go home."

• Novak Djokovic's medical exemption to play at the Australian Open generates rejection

"From my point of view, the only thing I can say is that I believe what people who know about medicine say. And if people say that we have to get vaccinated, we have to get vaccinated."

Nadal defeated Ricardas Berankis 6-2 7-5 to reach the Melbourne Summer Set quarter-finals on Thursday.

Precisely, a preparation tournament before the Australian Open.

This was his first singles match in five months due to a left foot injury.

In addition, the Spanish also returned to the field after having tested positive for covid-19 in December.

Rafael Nadal tests positive for covid-19 0:44

"I was feeling so tired and had a fever," Nadal, who has two vaccinations, said of catching the coronavirus.

"I had to be in bed for a couple of days without having the opportunity to move a lot because I was very sick with a fever. And one of the hardest symptoms I had in my life in terms of the flu."

Nadal is also competing in the doubles at the Melbourne Summer Set this week.

And next time he will face Tallon Griekspoor in the singles competition.

The Australian Open begins on January 17 and the men's final will be on January 30.

CNN's AnneClaire Stapleton and Jessie Yeung contributed reporting.

Novak Djokovic Rafael Nadal