AO2022 LIVE Updates – Osaka, Nadal SAD with Djokovic SAGA: Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka called the Novak Djokovic saga “unfortunate” and “sad”. Not only Osaka but Rafael Nadal also wants the focus back on Aus Open instead of talk about Djokovic episode – Follow Australian Open LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
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AO2022 LIVE Updates: Naomi Osaka Says Novak Djokovic Saga ‘SAD’ Nadal pleads, ‘bring focus back to Australian Open’
Osaka, Nadal SAD with Djokovic SAGA: Defending Australian Open champion Naomi Osaka called the Novak Djokovic saga “unfortunate” and “sad” Saturday as players complained the scandal was overshadowing the opening Grand Slam of the year. Unvaccinated world number one Djokovic has again been detained in Australia after authorities ripped up his visa for a second time and declared he was a threat to the public. He is facing deportation with his chances of defending his men’s title at Melbourne Park looking increasingly slim.
His lawyers are battling to keep him in the country in a controversy that has dragged on for over a week.
Four-time Grand Slam winner Osaka said she didn’t know the Serbian well but was sad that it might be how he was remembered, rather than for his exploits on the court.
“I think it’s an unfortunate situation. He’s such a great player and it’s kind of sad that some people might remember (him) in this way,” she said, two days before the start of the tournament.
World number four Stefanos Tsitsipas criticised the 20-time Grand Slam winner and rival earlier this week, saying he was “playing by his own rules”.
But he was reluctant to get involved again on Saturday.
“I’m here to talk about tennis, not Novak Djokovic,” said the Greek star.
But he added: “I won’t lie. It has been pretty much on every news outlet the last couple of weeks. It has received a lot of attention. A lot of people are obviously talking about it.
“That’s why I’m here to talk about tennis. Not enough tennis has been talked about in the last couple of weeks, which is a shame.”
Australian Open 2022: Players tired of the Djokovic circus – Alex de Minaur
AO2022 live updates: The Australian Open is much more important than any one player: Nadal on Djokovic
Nadal on Djokovic Episode: Rafael Nadal took a swipe at rival Novak Djokovic on Saturday as the world number one fights deportation from Australia, saying: “The Australian Open is much more important than any player.”
Ahead of the start of the first Grand Slam on Monday, Nadal told reporters at Melbourne Park: “Australian Open will be a great Australian Open with or without him.”
Djokovic is still in the draw to defend his title but faces deportation from the country before then after the Australian government cancelled his visa for a second time.
The long-running saga over whether the unvaccinated Serbian can stay in the country has overshadowed the first Grand Slam of the year, where Djokovic and Nadal would both be trying to become the first man to win 21 majors.
Nadal said he respected Djokovic “as person, of course, and as an athlete, without a doubt”.
But the Spaniard added: “I really respect him, even if I don’t agree with a lot of the things that he did the last couple of weeks.”
Follow Australian Open LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
