Rafa Nadal congratulated Novak Djokovic for the Grand Slam record, while attending the graduation ceremony of his academy
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TheNachoMan
Legend
pura clase de RAFA. Vamos.
No_Kwan_Do
Semi-Pro
Classy.
Fabresque
Legend
That article is a disgrace man.
Hitman
Bionic Poster
About as pathetic as they come.
DogInSpace
Semi-Pro
Imagine if Nadal said something like "Credit to Novak but I liked my chances if I was there".
Oh wait. That's actually what Djokovic said about ao22 when Nadal got the record.
Oh wait. That's actually what Djokovic said about ao22 when Nadal got the record.
Fabresque
Legend
It’s so funny cuz in 2017-2018 Federer at one point won 3 out of the last 5 slams at the same age Djokovic is winning now, yet none of the articles were saying “Tennis has a Roger Federer problem”. No, they were saying that Federer’s greatness knows no bounds, his elegance transcends the sport, the greatest to ever do it, blah blah blah. But now apparently Djokovic winning is a problem.
That’s why I love John McEnroe man. He says it how it is. This ain’t a contest to see who has the most followers on Twitter. It’s a numbers game.
TheNachoMan
Legend
He wasn’t wrong, and Nadal wouldn’t be wrong if he said that either. No need to be salty.
DogInSpace
Semi-Pro
It's not about being right or wrong. It's about what all of you guys are talking about in this thread. Class.
What's salty was Djokovic comment. Thankfuly Nadal is above that.
Djokovic_is_the_best#1
Bionic Poster
Djokovic is more open and honest than Nadal that’s why.
TheNachoMan
Legend
Whatever helps you sleep at night.
WeekendTennisHack
Hall of Fame
He will be bery bery tough no?
The Blond Blur
G.O.A.T.
Classdal doing Classdal things 
DSH
Talk Tennis Guru
esvc
Semi-Pro
His TW rabid fan would probably have told Nadal off and asked him to delete all Novak words in the speech.Unlike some of his fans, Rafa is a class act
Not a peep from Fed, of course
Curtennis
Hall of Fame
Little different circumstances… one was imprisoned and deported for trying to play. The other voluntarily sat out due to injury.
Razer
Legend
Novak after being removed by politicians can say that if he was there then he would have won, Nadal being unable to compete due to his own body cannot say if he was there he would have won.
What Rafa fans fail to understand is that the absence of defending champ due to politics is not same as defending champ being injured.
Backspin1183
Talk Tennis Guru
Nadal was robbed.
The absence of the defending champion was because he made the choice not to follow Australia 's entry requirements, which he had a perfect right to do. His decision had consequences, which he had originally said he was prepared to accept. Maybe he was misled into trying to enter, but having made his decision and knowing what he needed to do to gain entry maybe he should not have travelled.
Gary Duane
G.O.A.T.
Absolutely true. The big three may not become best friends in the future but I guarantee you that for the rest of their lives they will continue to have great respect for each other. If only fans could learn from these champions.
Curtennis
Hall of Fame
Except that’s not exactly how it went down. Australia had let him in, they had let WTA player Voracova in before him even.
once he got there they changed their mind for politics and even deported the WTA player too. This had nothing to do with the rules in place at the time. They made it up as they went.
AgassiSuperSlam11
Professional
Not only did he extend congratulations personally and the academy he downplayed the "inflation" argument by stating how competitive and unimaginable winning 23 slams was once thought.
DogInSpace
Semi-Pro
Djokovic was removed because he wasn't allowed to be there in the first place. Also his choice to not meet the requirements is on him and had nothing to do with Nadal.
He was being salty, bitter and couldn't go above it and in a classy manner contragulate his rival. What you fail to understand is that the rivalry is a also a connection between two people (something about Djokovic talks all the time) and he could have been a bigger person and acknowledge Nadal's achievement but he failed to that. Being "classy" shouldn't have boundries and matters the most when somebody can express it while being at his lowest instead he chose to give backhanded "compliment" and show his true colors. Now go ahead and keep on making excuses for him or judge Federer because he dared to chose silence.
DogInSpace
Semi-Pro
So what? That doesn't give him exeption from being classy. Class is something that doesn't have boundries, if you make exemptions then it truly isn't a class at all. It is about what relationship two rivals have between them and if his excuse from congratulating Nadal was an outside force which had nothing to do with what Nadal could or couldn't do then he can **** off. He had a chance to stand above it and he didn't take it.
btw. "imprisonment" and "deportation" were his choices. He was told when he landed that he is not allowed in the country without vaccination proof so he can fly back or stay and make it messy. He chose the latter.
Rattie
Legend
Rafa fans understand perfectly well. An absence is an absence irrespective of the reason. A player was prevented from playing a tournament they wanted to play but were unable to. The cause may be different, the result no different.
Arguably an injury leaves a player no choice, a decision not to take a vaccine is a choice.
It doesn’t suit Djokovic fans to accept that.
What’s exasperating is when Djokovic fans seem to think that every title is rightly his, he would have won anything he wasn’t participating in and only his number 1 ranking counts, anyone else who achieved it instead of him is dismissed and shown no respect or given any credit whatsoever. (not saying that was you, just it’s a constant theme here)
DogInSpace
Semi-Pro
Yes. Ironically Djokovic had a choice to play AO. It was all within his hands and will. Nadal didn't have a choice to play RG. No matter what, he didn't have a chance.
But Djokovic is not going to act classy because he is the "victim". Great personality
But Djokovic is not going to act classy because he is the "victim". Great personality
Not true. He gained permission to enter and had a visa which was then rejected purely on political grounds as the state and federal governments weren’t on the same page. Two other players had also received the same visa and successfully entered Australia. The government then changed its mind and deported Djokovic who handled that situation as well as anyone could have and without saying anything injurious which would harm his ability to eventually return. He certainly paid a price for not getting vaccinated but at the same time did not deceive anyone or enter the country on fall pretenses.
nolefam_2024
Talk Tennis Guru
Djokovic doesn't even need to win ao for himself. He just would have taken Nadal out, point blank. There is nothing Nadal would do about it because he can't do anything about it. A slam less for Nadal is also a victory for Djokovic. 1 less for Nadal and 1 more Djokovic is probably what would happen.
DogInSpace
Semi-Pro
They didn't let him in because they knew that they would be creating a double standards for "tennis players" and "regular folks". There were many people who wanted to travel to AU during that time and they ALL had to have vaccination proof. If they had let someone as popular as Djokovic in that would create a backlash becasue it would mean that there are people and "people".
He did made errors in his application. He did try to deceive and enter the country on fall pretenses. He did provide incorrect travel information.
"Novak Djokovic has admitted an "error of judgement" in failing to isolate after testing positive for COVID-19 last month" ... "
Djokovic took to social media to clarify what he called "ongoing misinformation" about his movements while he was infectious last month and about errors on the travel document he used to enter Australia.
There's been speculation that errors on his immigration form could potentially result in the cancellation of his visa. On Wednesday he described the speculation as "hurtful" and said he wanted to address it in the interest of "alleviating broader concern in the community about my presence in Australia".
ronalditop
Hall of Fame
Pure Clase.
Rattie
Legend
Yeah, kind of proves my point really.
nolefam_2024
Talk Tennis Guru
What is your point. Look at the record Nadal has vs him. 0 wins and 0 set wins on hc for a decade. There is no imagination, this is the truth. With djokovic in semis Nadal wouldn't come out of the draw.
AgassiSuperSlam11
Professional
Not to get redundant on this vaccine issue but in 2021 USO unvaccinated people were prohibited from attending the event due to the "keys to the city." At that time not only Djokovic but several other notable players were still unvaccinated. As a result, in the 2021 USO unvaccinated players were allowed to play while unvaccinated spectators were prohibited. The AO wanted to avoid the hypocrisy (not defending or advocating their position).
From the NY Times:
Under pressure from Mayor Bill de Blasio and other city leaders, the United States Tennis Association reversed its lax coronavirus protocols for the upcoming U.S. Open tournament, which opens to thousands of fans on Monday. Originally, the tournament did not require any proof of vaccination or a recent negative coronavirus test for fans to enter, and there were no mask mandates, either. But the mayor’s office stepped in over the past two days and demanded stricter protocols.
On Friday evening, the tournament announced on its Twitter account that proof of at least one vaccine shot would now be required for entrance to the grounds for all fans age 12 and older. No masks are required. The mayor’s office was adamant that fans entering Arthur Ashe Stadium, the largest venue on the grounds of the Billie Jean King National Tennis Center, be vaccinated. But the U.S.T.A. took it a step further and made it a requirement for all fans entering the grounds of the tournament.
“Today, the U.S.T.A. was informed that the New York City mayor’s office will be mandating proof of Covid-19 vaccination for entrance to Arthur Ashe Stadium,” the statement said. “Given the continuing evolution of the Delta variant and in keeping with our intention to put the health and safety of our fans first, the U.S.T.A. will extend the mayor’s requirement to all U.S. Open ticket holders 12 years old and older.”
LaVie en Rose
Hall of Fame
Right?
Day before Djokovic landed S. Morrison said Victoria gov, provided him medical exemption following the same procedure like for the last 2 years.
Second part of your ill-informend spin, is just speculation, it was clerical mistake made by team member and it's accepted like that by the court
LaVie en Rose
Hall of Fame
Anyway I glad nadal fans showing their class once again
LaVie en Rose
Hall of Fame
Czech player Renata Voracova with the same exemption landed /resided Australia for work & played ITF matches 10 days before Djokovic landed in Melbourne.
But hey
about Djokovic 2022 Australia case one would think he would bother to read court documents , yet brought MSM speculations in his rant and presented it as facts
But hey
Classy nadal fan ,being informed IN DETAILYes. Ironically Djokovic had a choice to play AO. It was all within his hands and will. Nadal didn't have a choice to play RG. No matter what, he didn't have a chance.
But Djokovic is not going to act classy because he is the "victim". Great personality
about Djokovic 2022 Australia case one would think he would bother to read court documents , yet brought MSM speculations in his rant and presented it as facts
Razer
Legend
Cause matters a lot.
If Djoker was missing the tournament due to an injury or he lost in 1R then nobody would feel sour or bad regarding it. So you cannot blame Djokovic fans for believing the title was his because he was given exemption by tiley and then all that happened.... Not Nadal's fault in any way, but the situations are not same, cause matters a lot. Any absence is not same.
joshuayuan
Professional
Yeah and Nadal did not dare to openly defend or help his rival Novak Djokovic for his demise.. It was actually Nick Kyrgios who defended Novak, of all people.
nolefam_2024
Talk Tennis Guru
I won't even say title was his. Lol he was 27 matches winning streak in 2021 and ao is his yard. His draw was super easy and he did not have to face any top 10 seed till semis. No chance he wouldn't make the semis.
While Nadal was slated to meet him in the semis and it's known and accepted what that semis would have been like. So Novak in the draw that year was enough to blast past Nadal into the final. Even if Medvedev won, it won't give Nadal his second career slam, nor would it give Nadal a title on 2 surfaces for 10+ years. It would also make nole at the very least equal to Rafa by Wimbledon, and that is when Medvedev would win ao, nole was actually much more a favorite vs Medvedev and I am throwing rafans a bone. Still.
It would also put Nadal on 21 and just a slam ahead of Federer who I think is much greater player career wise. 1 slam difference we could easily sweep away when Federer had so much more complete career than the clay courter. Where is nadal's ATP finals title? Both fed nole have 6, Pete has 5. These are the guys with whom he is comparing his career with. Not some second rate players. He should have won ATP finals many times, but failed to win even once.
1 slam difference would have been swept away. But Australian government did grave injustice to both Djokovic and Federer when Nadal won AO again.
nolefam_2024
Talk Tennis Guru
We have to praise Tiafoe for taking out Nadal, point blank, again in USopen. It would have been absolute disgrace if Nadal won both AO and USO in Djokovic's absense.
nolefam_2024
Talk Tennis Guru
Also you can't rely on these next gen guys for anything. Both Medvedev and Zverev failed in Australian open. It was a failure on so many levels. Zverev couldn't get past r3, are you kidding me, what an absolute mug.
Medvedev choked hard from 2 sets and a break up. What do you need to give these guys belief. Disgraceful.
Tsitsipas is the same in RG 2021 admittedly. But he wasn't favorite over Novak. Medvedev was absolutely the favorite over Nadal and chocked all the way to the plate.
If you want to get something done, you have to do it yourself. This is the lesson Novak taught by beating Nadal 2 times in Roland Garros. Honestly no one else beat him in 12+ years. Absolutely shameful.
While Nadal didn't even need to take Nole out. Politicians did it for him.
Medvedev choked hard from 2 sets and a break up. What do you need to give these guys belief. Disgraceful.
Tsitsipas is the same in RG 2021 admittedly. But he wasn't favorite over Novak. Medvedev was absolutely the favorite over Nadal and chocked all the way to the plate.
If you want to get something done, you have to do it yourself. This is the lesson Novak taught by beating Nadal 2 times in Roland Garros. Honestly no one else beat him in 12+ years. Absolutely shameful.
While Nadal didn't even need to take Nole out. Politicians did it for him.
Azure
G.O.A.T.
One was physical injury and the other was mental injury.
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