Nadal ‘blissful’ after Djokovic Australian Open visa resolution

Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal on Thursday welcomed the choice to grant his Serbian rival Novak Djokovic a visa which can allow him to compete on the 2023 occasion, describing it as “one of the best information potential”.

In a sensational series of occasions in 2022, Djokovic was detained and deported from Australia over his non-vaccinated standing on Covid.

He was initially barred by the then-conservative authorities from returning to Australia till 2025 however Australia’s new Immigration Minister Andrew Giles mentioned that with a major easing in pandemic restrictions, the nine-time champion was now welcome to return.

Nadal, who gained the occasion in Djokovic’s absence, has a males’s document 22 particular person Grand Slam titles to the Serb’s 21, with Australia the subsequent of the 4 annual main tournaments.

“I all the time mentioned the identical: tennis is healthier when one of the best gamers are on the courtroom,” mentioned Nadal after his comfort victory over Casper Ruud on the ATP Finals in Turin.

“Roger (Federer) isn't taking part in any extra. I missed numerous Grand Slams for accidents. And final yr Novak was not capable of play there,” mentioned the Spanish clay-court supremo.

“That’s previous. What’s subsequent is Novak will be capable to play once more.

“That’s one of the best information potential, particularly figuring out that now the virus is extra underneath management - appears - world wide. So why not?

“(I’m) Glad for him. Glad for the match. Glad for the followers. That’s it.”

Nadal, the highest seed the ATP finals within the absence of injured world primary Carlos Alcaraz, bowed out on the pool stage regardless of his 7-5, 7-5 win over Ruud on Thursday.

He had already been eradicated after shedding his first two matches within the Inexperienced Group to Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime.