US Open 2022 | Sport in some methods is greater than any participant: Rafael Nadal reacts to Novak Djokovic withdrawal

This is the second time this 12 months that Novak Djokovic will miss a significant occasion, having beforehand been deported from Australia after a 10-day authorized battle to compete on the Australian Open 2022.

Rafael Nadal is one forward of Novak Djokovic in variety of Grand Slams singles victory. (Credits: Reuters)

HIGHLIGHTSNovak Djokovic will miss his second Grand Slam occasion this 12 months after Australian OpenRafael Nadal mentioned will probably be powerful for followers, match and gamers to not have Djokovic at US OpenRafael Nadal mentioned not having Novak Djokovic in US Open draw is a crucial miss

The 22-time Grand Slam singles champion Rafael Nadal opined that “sport in some ways is bigger than any player”, whereas reacting to Serbian nice Novak Djokovic’s withdrawal from the US Open.

Djokovic, the 21-time main singles winner, pulled out of the hard-court main hours earlier than the draw was introduced on August 25 as he opted to not get the Covid-19 vaccine.

According to the present guidelines, travellers have to indicate proof of vaccination to board flights to enter the United States. This is the second time in a 12 months that Djokovic will miss a significant occasion, having beforehand been deported from Australia after a 10-day authorized battle to compete on the Australian Open 2022.

The Serbian misplaced to Daniil Medvedev of Russia within the remaining of the 2021 US Open in straight units.

“From my personal perspective, (it) is a very sad news,” Nadal was quoted as saying. “It’s always a shame when the best players of the world are not able to play a tournament because of injuries or because of different reasons. In this case, not having one of the best players of the history in the draw of Grand Slam is always an important miss, no?

“As I mentioned, powerful for the followers, powerful for the match. In my opinion, powerful for the gamers, too, as a result of we wish to have the very best subject doable. But within the different hand, I repeat what I mentioned loads of instances: the game in some methods is greater than any participant.”

Nadal, who was pressured to retire forward of the Wimbledon semi-final resulting from an stomach harm, returned to aggressive tennis on the Cincinnati Masters. The Spaniard, nevertheless, misplaced to eventual champion Borna Coric within the Round of 32. Nadal will play Rinky Hijikata of Australia within the first spherical of the US Open on Wednesday, August 31.

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