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Rafael Nadal
Photo: JAMES ROSS/EPA
Top tennis player Rafael Nadal has been critical of the affair surrounding Serbian superstar Novak Djokovic's entry into Australia.
"The Australian Open is much more important than any individual player," said the Spaniard, who, like many other professionals, complains that the case overshadows interest in the first Grand Slam tournament of the season.
The unvaccinated world number one Djokovic is still fighting his expulsion in Australia in order to be able to defend his title at the Australian Open, which begins on Monday.
According to Nadal, he respects his permanent rival “as a person, of course, and without a doubt as an athlete”, but “does not agree with many things Novak has done in recent weeks”.
Both Nadal and Djoković, if granted residency, could win their 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne, setting a record.
The Serb, on the other hand, was backed by German star player Alexander Zverev.
"I don't think it's very fair for a person to come here and not be able to play," said Zverev in Melbourne on Saturday.
"The Australian and Victorian governments should have known in advance what was going to happen."
Former world number one Naomi Osaka described the Djokovic affair as "regrettable".
The defending champion finds it sad that "this great player" is now remembered for this case and not for his successes on the tennis court.
Nevertheless, the Japanese thinks that it's not up to the tennis players, "it's up to the government to decide how Australia deals with it," Osaka said.
aha/dpa/sid