The events in the lead-up to the Australian Open 2022 were the talk of the town before the commencement of this event. Ever since Novak Djokovic landed in Australia, he had been embroiled in a visa controversy. He had received a vaccine exemption to participate in the opening Grand Slam of the season. However, upon landing in Australia, his visa was canceled, and he was subsequently detained at the Melbourne airport.

People across the globe have had their opinions on this matter. His fans were spotted taking to the streets to express their opinions. Moreover, renowned celebrities and fellow tennis players had their say on this saga. They were divided in their opinions for and against the Serb. Recently, Toni Nadal, Rafael Nadal’s uncle, and ex-coach, expressed his opinion for the Serb.

What did Toni Nadal say to Novak Djokovic?

The Spanish coach pointed out that the World Number 1 was reportedly the only unvaccinated player inside the top 100 to try and play in this year’s Australian Open. This comes after the fact that ATP had confirmed last week that most of the world’s top 100 men’s players had been vaccinated.

Further, Toni Nadal felt that Djokovic could have avoided this saga by just getting the Covid-19 vaccination. Moreover, he said, “It has surprised me that the situation has gotten to where it has gotten. Djokovic could have done things in a different way. The ATP asks you to get vaccinated and the other two players who have not been vaccinated agreed not to go play.” [h/t express.co.uk]

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After his detention, Djokovic decided to take the legal route. He challenged his case in the Federal Court of Australia. Judge Anthony Kelly ruled in favor of the Serb. However, Australian Immigration Minister Alex Hawke decided to exercise his power and cancel Novak Djokovic’s visa. Finally, a day before the commencement of the Australian Open, Djokovic lost the appeal and subsequently returned to his hometown.

With his exit from the Australian Open 2022, the Serb could potentially lose out on the top spot. Daniil Medvedev can climb to the top of the ATP rankings if he manages at least a semi-finals finish in the opening Grand Slam of the season.

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Can the Serb make a strong comeback further in the season? Do let us know your views in the comments below.