Tennis large Todd Woodbridge has voiced what millions of fans are reasoning astir Novak Djokovic's COVID-19 vaccination enactment pursuing Rafael Nadal's nationalist committedness to the Australian Open.
Nadal has revealed astatine a sponsor accidental astatine the Paris Masters that helium planned to vie successful Australia's expansive slam successful 2022, aft returning from a agelong wounded lay-off astatine an accumulation lawsuit successful Abu Dhabi successful December.
If Djokovic opts against competing successful January's Australian Open due to the fact that of the 'no jab, nary play' ultimatum and Nadal competes and wins, the Serbian superstar volition beryllium trailing successful the combat for astir vocation expansive slams. Djokovic, Nadal and Roger Federer are presently adjacent connected 20 large wins.
LIVE UPDATES: Verry Elleegant wins 2021 Melbourne Cup; Results arsenic it happened
Woodbridge, a victor of 16 expansive slams successful men's doubles, declared that Nadal's committedness to the Australian Open had placed Djokovic nether adjacent greater unit than before.
"One happening (that) stood retired to maine contiguous is that Novak has been laid the situation from Rafael Nadal," Woodbridge said connected 2GB's Wide World of Sports radio.
READ MORE: Melbourne Cup runner Tralee Rose taken vet hospital
"Now, the situation wrong that is, 'does helium triumph the tourney and instrumentality 21 (major wins) and get backmost successful front?' Does Novak privation to fto him bash that? I'm definite helium won't privation (Nadal) to beryllium successful that position, truthful astatine immoderate constituent Novak is going to person to marque that telephone (as to whether helium gets vaccinated).
"Novak – helium continues to support america guessing. But, successful the end, it's lone gathering unit connected him to marque a determination 1 mode oregon the other. And – who knows? – possibly helium already has."
It's really not known if Djokovic has been vaccinated, but his refusal to confirm, anti-vaccination comments and unconventional attack to wellness person led galore to presume that helium has not received the jab.
Victoria premier Daniel Andrews said past week that helium expected each players competing successful the Australian Open "to beryllium double-vaxxed".
Mr Andrews' comments followed the leaking of an email giving anticipation to unvaccinated players.
The email, leaked to Women's Tennis Association players, stated that the unvaccinated could get successful Australia immoderate clip aft December 1 but would request to acquisition 2 weeks of edifice quarantine. It besides said players would person to perpetrate to regular COVID-19 testing.
Djokovic has won the past 3 Australian Open titles and a grounds 9 crossed his glittering career.
English (US) ·