NEW YORK: Rafael Nadal mentioned Friday he’s saddened by Novak Djokovic’s absence from the US Open as he returns to the event for the primary time in three years.
The Spanish legend has not performed in New York since defeating Daniil Medvedev in 5 units to elevate the 2019 title.
Nadal has added three extra Grand Slam singles titles to his haul since that victory, taking his complete to 22 — the all-time males’s report.
Whereas the 36-year-old will probably be trying so as to add to that tally over the subsequent fortnight in New York, Nadal admitted on Friday that the absence of Djokovic left him “very unhappy.”
Djokovic confirmed on Thursday he’ll play no half within the event after refusing to get vaccinated towards COVID-19 — inserting him at odds with US authorities journey necessities for worldwide guests.
“From my private perspective, it’s very unhappy information,” Nadal mentioned.
“It’s all the time a disgrace when one of the best gamers of the world aren’t in a position to play a event due to accidents or due to completely different causes.
“On this case, not having the most effective gamers of the historical past within the draw of Grand Slam is all the time an necessary miss, no? Robust for the followers, powerful for the event. In my view, powerful for the gamers, too, as a result of we need to have one of the best discipline potential.”
But regardless of Djokovic’s absence, Nadal is adamant that the event won’t be diminished by the non-participation of the Serbian nice, who is only one behind the Spaniard in Grand Slam singles titles with 21.
“I repeat what I mentioned loads of occasions: the game in some methods is larger than any participant,” Nadal mentioned.
“I missed plenty of necessary occasions in my tennis profession due to accidents, definitely. Final 12 months I used to be not right here. Two years in the past I used to be not right here. The event continues. The world of tennis maintain going.
“Even when isn’t a excellent news for everybody, the world continues and the tennis will proceed after me, after Novak, after Roger (Federer).”
Nadal began 2022 in blistering trend, profitable each the Australian and French Opens earlier than an stomach muscle damage pressured him to scratch from the Wimbledon semifinals.
He returned from that damage on the Cincinnati Masters this month however exited within the second spherical. Nadal mentioned Friday he had been defending the damage throughout his Cincinnati comeback.
“It’s a troublesome damage as a result of it’s harmful, it’s dangerous,” he mentioned. “When you have got a scar, it’s a spot that you simply put lot of effort if you find yourself serving.
“I take it very simple within the Cincinnati, too, within the practices. The match, I strive my greatest with out placing all the trouble there on the serve.”
Nadal, who opens his US Open marketing campaign towards Australian wild card entrant Rinky Hijikata on Tuesday, was cautiously optimistic about his preparations.
“I’m doing issues one of the best ways that I can,” he mentioned. “I hope to be prepared for the motion, no? That’s the one factor that I can say.
“Taking care with the serve, being trustworthy. However basically phrases, sure, I’m working towards at excessive stage of depth.”