Australian Open 2021- Rafael Nadal has apparent dig at Novak Djokovic for quarantine suggestions

ByJames Walker-Roberts

Updated 26/01/2021 at 09:06 GMT

World No 2 Rafael Nadal has been speaking about quarantine conditions ahead of the Australian Open and has seemingly taken a dig at Novak Djokovic for his request to make improvents for the 72 players confined to their hotel rooms. Nadal, who is in Adelaide along with Djokovic, also had his say on whether preparations are equal for every player.

Rafael Nadal has appeared to take a dig at Novak Djokovic for his suggestions to change quarantine conditions for players preparing for the Australian Open.

Djokovic came in for criticism after he was revealed that he made several suggestions to Tennis Australia for the 72 players confined to their hotel rooms for two weeks, including potentially shortening the isolation period and finding private homes with tennis courts.

Nadal and Djokovic are both currently in Adelaide rather than Melbourne as they are playing an exhibition event ahead of the Australian Open.

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In an interview with ESPN, Nadal seemed to be referencing Djokovic when he said: "Some need to make public all these things they do for others, some of us do it in a more private way without having to publicise everything.

"The calls we make to help the most disadvantaged players, some of us don't need or want to advertise it."

There have been complaints that Nadal, Djokovic and the rest of the top players in the world have an unfair advantage as quarantine conditions are different in Adelaide.

But world No 2 Nadal, who won the Australian Open in 2009, said he sees things differently.

“It is understandable, respectable. Where is the line of privileges? I have a different view. Here in Adelaide our conditions have been better than most of the conditions in Melbourne, but some Melbourne players have larger rooms where they can perform physical activities, others smaller rooms where they cannot have contact with their coach or physical trainer. Where is the line? It is a matter of ethics, of which each one has his opinion.

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"There has been talk that Adelaide people have better conditions, but I have not heard from any Melbourne player that some have much better rooms than others.

"I have not seen some of those who have complained so much about the conditions in Adelaide complaining about the conditions of the more than 20 players who have not practised. Complaints always come from a disadvantaged position.

"At the time of talking about fair play or equal conditions, people don't tend to complain about the position of those who are worse off than them. In the end we all try to get the most out of our possibilities and help each other."

Nadal will be among the favourites to win the Australian Open, which starts in Melbourne on February 8.

The world No 2 will begin his preparations at the ATP Cup on February 2 and will be hoping to go one better after losing in last year's final to Djokovic's Serbia.

The 2021 Australian Open is live and exclusive on Eurosport. You can watch every moment on eurosport.co.uk and the Eurosport app.

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