Djokovic infographic
On January 5, Beijing time, according to Eurosport, Rafa Nadal's uncle and former coach Tony Nadal urged ATP' current world number one Novak Djokovic to clarify to the outside world that he had obtained a medical exemption from the Australian Open.
With the Serbian having previously refused to disclose his COVID-19 vaccination status, speculation has been going on over the past few months about whether he will miss this year's Australian Open. However, this speculation came to fruition yesterday – Djokovic announced on social media that he had a medical exemption and was about to leave for Australia, which was subsequently confirmed by Australian Open officials.
Given that Australia has some of the world's toughest COVID-19 restrictions, many of its citizens are stranded overseas and unable to return, and as a result, there is strong opposition from all sides.
"King of clay" Rafa Nadal is currently preparing for the Australian Open in Australia, while his former coach and uncle Tony Nadal, in a recent op-ed for the Spanish newspaper El País, responded to Djokovic's medical exemption and made it clear that he hoped that the current world number one would "dispel" doubts about his immunity.
Tony Nadal Infographic
"Nearly 6 million people have died from this damn virus, and millions more have been vaccinated." He wrote in a recent op-ed in Le Petit.
"I have to admit that until tuesday (January 4) it was announced, I thought the Serbian player would give up on this tournament or he would get vaccinated."
"My understanding is that if you apply for and get a (medical) waiver, then it's because you must not have given any authorized [vaccine]."
"I want to think that Novak Djokovic is no stranger to all this, and that he will dispel [people's] doubts as a sign of human compassion and understanding."
"If Djokovic gives some explanation, that's fine."
"It is true that he is under no obligation to provide information about his privacy, but at the same time, he must be aware that this is a worldwide reference in a time of severe health crisis."
"At the same time, it's also a very sensitive time due to the tremendous pain caused by the virus."
Referring to the strict restrictions imposed by the Australian government during the COVID-19 pandemic, Tony Nadal went on to list relatives who had "not been seen or seen for more than two years".
Australian Open organisers confirmed Djokovic's medical exemption was obtained after a "rigorous review process" involving two independent panels of medical experts.