'Foaming at the mouth': Huge Rafa Nadal call over Novak Djokovic drama
Tennis great Andy Roddick has claimed Rafael Nadal will be 'foaming at the mouth' if Novak Djokovic doesn't compete at the Australian Open due to quarantine restrictions.
Djokovic's vaccination status with the 20-time major winner adamant that his privacy on the matter should be respected.
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Over the weekend, Djokovic responded to Tennis Australia boss Craig Tiley's assertion that all players will need to be fully vaccinated in order to play the Australian Open.
This has again led to more speculation Djokovic might skip the tournament, if he is unvaccinated.
However, many feel it would be a major missed opportunity in the grand slam title race with Nadal and Federer.
With all three tied on 20 grand slam titles, Nadal is the only one of the 'Big Three' to commit to the Australian Open as long as his comeback from injury goes smoothly.
Djokovic has also won eight Australian Open titles and would be strong favourite to pull off a tenth.
This prompted grand slam champion Andy Roddick to claim Nadal would be excited if Djokovic doesn't compete at his favourite grand slam, but made the big call he wouldn't be favourite.
"I don't think Rafa is the favourite regardless, whether Novak is there or not, but as it currently stands," Roddick said on the Tennis Channel.
"But there is a serious wrinkle."
When asked what would it mean if Djokovic doesn't play, Roddick said it wouldn't just be Nadal excited following Daniil Medvedev's US Open win and Alexander Zverev's ATP Finals title.
“If he doesn’t, opportunity’s knocking for Medvedev, Zverev, Rafa’s going to be foaming at the mouth to get there and get to that 21st Slam so these other guys, they have to play their tournament either way," he said on Tennis Channel.
Novak Djokovic unsure over Aus Open participation
Tennis Australia boss Tiley was forthright when telling players they will need to be vaccinated at Melbourne Park.
"Everyone on site, the fans, all the staff, the players, will need to be vaccinated," Tiley said at the tournament's launch.
"There's been a lot of speculation about Novak's position, he's said it's a private matter.
"We would love to see Novak here, but he knows he needs to be vaccinated in order to play.
"He's always said that the Australian Open is the event that puts the wind in his sails."
Following Tiley's comments, Djokovic refused to publicly reveal his vaccination status and commit to the first grand slam of 2022.
"We'll see. We'll have to wait and see," Djokovic said of the Australian Open after losing to eventual champion Alexander Zverev in the semi-finals of the ATP Finals in Turin.
"I haven't been talking to them, to be honest," Djokovic said of Australian Open officials.
"I was just waiting to hear what the news is going to be and now that I know we'll just have to wait and see."
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