“
The Australian Open is much more important than any player
,” Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal said on Saturday, attacking his Serbian rival Novak Djokovic who is waging a legal battle against his expulsion from Australia. .
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Australian Open: men's schedule and results
Australian Open: ladies schedule and results
“
The Australian Open will be a great Australian Open with or without him
,” the world No. 6 told reporters from Melbourne Park, two days before the start of this Grand Slam tournament.
World number one Djokovic, unvaccinated, is still in the draw to defend his title but was sent back to administrative detention on Saturday in Melbourne after his visa was canceled for the second time by the Australian government.
Read alsoTennis: again in detention, Novak Djokovic fixed on his fate this Saturday at 11:30 p.m.
This new episode in a saga that began on January 5, when Djokovic was turned away upon his arrival in Melbourne, makes it increasingly unlikely that the 34-year-old Serb will participate in the Australian Open, which starts on Monday.
Nadal said he respects Djokovic "
as a person, of course, and as an athlete, no doubt
".
"
I really respect him, although I disagree with a lot of things he's done in the last two weeks
," added the 35-year-old Spaniard.