‘Let him play’: Rafael Nadal’s stunning backflip on Novak Djokovic

At the Australian Open, Rafael Nadal was adamant Novak Djokovic could not expect to play while unvaccinated. Now he says, let Djokovic play.

Novak Djokovic fires himself up during his win over Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti in Dubai

As happens to most people on a trip to Acapulco, Rafael Nadal has lost his mind. Gone troppo and bonkers in one hit. Started talking complete and utter jibberish. In the height of his discombobulated state at the Mexican Open, surely with a dozen empty tequila glasses piled around him, wearing one of those garish oversized hats and strumming a guitar, he’s said that Novak Djokovic should be allowed to return to the tour while unvaccinated. He must have been sozzled to be so sympathetic.

“Vaccinated or unvaccinated, let Novak play again,” Nadal said, mild salsa sauce from his burrito dripping down his chin. Which was at stark odds with his more sober message to Djokovic after Immigration Minister Alex Hawke knocked the Serb put of the Australian Open. “We need to get vaccinated,” he said at Melbourne Park in January. “If you get vaccinated, you can play.”

Djokovic smoked Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 in his first match of the year early on Tuesday. He next faces either Australia’s Alex de Minaur or Russian Karen Khachanov.

Nadal plays American Denis Kudla at Acapulco on Wednesday. With Djokovic facing the prospect of being banished from most events this year because he won’t get the jabs, Nadal said: “It will affect his history, whether he can play or not. It will affect himself, the grand slams, I don’t know what.”

Let Djokovic play? That’s unfair to all the players who have been vaccinated in order to keep their jobs. To every global citizen accepting health and safety measures. Perhaps it’s easier for Nadal to welcome back Djokovic now he’s one ahead of him on the all-time majors list. If you have to pick a G.O.A.T right now, it’s Nadal.

“It’s not for me to talk about that because I’m an involved party,” he said. “We’ve all achieved more than we would have dreamed. There could be arguments of different kinds that could give that title you like so much, of the best in history, to anyone. It’s a question of individual taste.”

No really. It’s a question of the bare facts – who’s won the most majors? – sprinkled with the indefinable such as heart, style and how these three players make you feel. That’s part of true sporting greatness. The feeling an athlete gives you. I have Nadal on top, Federer second and Djokovic third. For now.

“To be honest, nothing has changed after I won the 21st major title,” Nadal said. “Having 20 or 21 does not make much of a difference. Life goes on as the same as before. The one thing that has changed is that I’m now playing tennis, which I could not a few months ago.

“I’m thrilled about everything that happened in Australia as I did not expect that. But nothing has changed in my life. No title would cause that. I know what is essential for me. At 35, and after a great experience in the past two decades and many ups and downs, I’m calm when it comes to my results on the court, even after a sensational one like in Melbourne,”

Ex-World No.1 Andy Murray joined Djokovic in the second round at Dubai. “It would be a lot easier for him, obviously, if he was to get vaccinated,” he said of Djokovic. “But I also didn’t like seeing him in the situation that he was in Australia as someone that I respect, have known since I was a child. There are consequences to the decisions he’s made just now. He obviously has to accept that. But I don’t think it’s great for tennis if our best player is not competing in the major events.”

Russia’s Daniil Medvedev can replace Djokovic as World No.1 at Acapulco. His opening match is against Frenchman Benoit Paire on Wednesday. Medvedev and Djokovic have become bosom buddies. A couple of polarising figures who see themselves as kindred and misunderstood spirits. Djokovic revealed Medvedev contacted him shortly after losing to Nadal in Melbourne.

“He texted me 45 minutes after the final, which surprised me,” Djokovic said. “The content of the message is private, but it was supportive either way. He’s very authentic and says what he thinks at every stage. It’s not always politically correct, which many will not like. He reminds me of myself in that sense.”

Djokovic’s comeback at Dubai began with a rousing crowd reception. They were on their feet in the stands, applauding like mad. He played remarkably cleanly in his first match since early December. He celebrated with a quiet fist pump. Kissed a finger. Put it above his heart. Placed the finger on the court. Saluted the masses and the heavens. Kept alive his hopes of remaining No.1, although that ball is in Medvedev’s court.

“It’s been a while since I played my last match,” Djokovic said. “The reception was fantastic. I couldn’t ask for a better reception and I couldn’t pick a better place to kickstart the season. All in all it was a very pleasant experience for me … Daniil is an extremely good guy and we have a great relationship of mutual respect. I think he appreciates that I trained a lot with him and helped him when he was a junior. I gave him advice and answered some questions. We were on the same plane when Russia played Davis Cup in Serbia. I was very grateful for that and our relationship continues to grow.”