MADRID: Rafael Nadal says Novak Djokovic will need to be vaccinated to keep playing if the governing bodies of tennis make coronavirus shots obligatory once they become available.
Nadal told the Spanish newspaper La Voz de Galicia this week that Djokovic and all players will have to follow the rules when tennis eventually returns to action.
Nadal said no one can be forced to take the vaccine and everyone should be free to make their choices, but all players will have to comply if tennis officials require “vaccination to travel” and to “protect” everyone on the tour.
“Then Djokovic will have to be vaccinated if he wants to keep playing tennis at the top level,” Nadal said. “The same for me. Everyone will have to follow the rules, just like now we have to stay at home.”
Djokovic recently said he was against taking a vaccine for the coronavirus even if it became mandatory to travel. He later said he was open to changing his mind.
“If the ATP or the International Tennis Federation obligates us to take the vaccine to play tennis, then we will have to do it,” Nadal said.
The Spaniard compared it to the restrictions players already have on medicines because of doping controls.
“It’s about following the rules, nothing more than that,” he said.
There is still no vaccine available against the new coronavirus, which has killed more than 270,000 people around the world.
Djokovic on Monday broke confinement rules in Spain after a local club said it mistakenly allowed him to practice on one of its courts.
Tennis players are likely to be authorized to be back on courts in Spain beginning on Monday, May 11. Nadal said he returned to practice but did it on a private court.
Nadal recently said he was pessimistic about the return of tennis in 2020. He said that if given the option, he would scrap this season entirely so tennis could resume normally in 2021.
Djokovic won the Australian Open in early February, before sports were brought to a halt because of the virus. It was his 17th Grand Slam trophy overall. Only Roger Federer, with 20, and Nadal, with 19, have won more men’s Grand Slam singles trophies than Djokovic.
More than 30 sanctioned events have been scrapped since early March until at least mid-July. Wimbledon was canceled for the first time in 75 years, while the start of the French Open has been postponed from May until September.
The US Open is scheduled to begin in New York in late August, but organizers said they will decide in June if that tournament will be held at all.
Djokovic will need vaccine if required by tour, says Nadal
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Djokovic will need vaccine if required by tour, says Nadal
- Nadal said all players will have to comply if tennis officials require vaccination to travel and to protect everyone on tour
- Djokovic recently said he was against taking a vaccine for the coronavirus even if it became mandatory to travel
Al-Ahli lumber to victory against relegation-battling Al-Okhdood to close SPL Matchday 14
- Matthias Jaissle’s side were below their best but ultimately secured all three points
- Ivan Toney scores his ninth of the campaign as Al-Ahli win 1-0
RIYADH: The 14th match-week of the Saudi Pro League concluded in Najran, as Al-Okhdood hosted Al-Ahli at the Prince Hathloul bin Abdulaziz Sports City Stadium.
Al-Ahli edged the relegation-battling hosts 1-0, but victory did not come easily.
With Firas Al-Buraikan continuing to deputise in his makeshift role on the right wing in the absence of Riyad Mahrez, Al-Ahli lacked the creativity that powered them to continental glory last season.
The usual set-piece dominance enjoyed by Al-Ahli, thanks to Merih Demiral and Roger Ibañez, failed to translate into early success.
Former Al-Ittihad defender Naif Assery stood firm at the back, winning two valuable duels in quick succession to deny Wenderson Galeno and Ivan Toney.
It wasn’t until the 34th minute that Al-Ahli mustered a clear chance, when Ibañez sent Toney through on goal with a long ball, only for the Englishman to be flagged offside.
Moments before half time, 20-year-old Matheus Gonçalves appeared to have scored his first league goal in Al-Ahli colors, but the effort was ruled out after Al-Buraikan’s foul on Gökhan Gül in the build-up.
On the other side of half time, Al-Ahli would score, this time through Enzo Millot. The French midfielder coolly made his way past two defenders before finishing in style. Unfortunately, a foul in the build-up would prevent the goal from being counted, as Millot pushed Juan Pedroza on his way to goal.
Their persistence would finally pay off in the 57th minute. Millot’s corner was met by Ibañez, whose header was cleared off the goal line by Mohammed Abo Abd. Ziyad Al-Johani reacted quickest to save the ball on the byline and square it to Ivan Toney, who finished from close range for the only goal of the game.
The win sees Al-Ahli reclaim fourth place with 28 points, three behind Al-Taawoun and Al-Nassr, and seven points adrift of league leaders Al-Hilal.
Elsewhere, Al-Fateh became one of three SPL sides to win every match since the league’s return from the Arab Cup break. Their 1-0 victory against NEOM, sealed by a stunning long-range strike from Naif Masoud, moves them nine points clear of the relegation zone.
Meanwhile, Al-Riyadh climbed out of the relegation zone after salvaging a point against Al-Fayha, with Yoann Barbet scoring a dramatic equalizer in the seventh minute of stoppage time.
Action returns on Monday, headlined by the Capital Derby between Al-Nassr and Al-Hilal, as the SPL resumes midweek.
