Rafael Nadal takes swipe at Novak Djokovic
Spaniard says not everyone feels the need to 'advertise' how they are helping others
Rafael Nadal has taken an apparent swipe at Novak Djokovic over his requests for quarantined players preparing for the Australian Open, saying not everyone felt the need to "advertise" how they were trying to help.
The Serbian world No. 1 issued a list of suggestions to Tennis Australia last week, on behalf of 72 players unable to leave their Melbourne hotel rooms after Covid-19 cases were detected on their planes to Australia.
They reportedly included moving players into private homes with tennis courts and getting them better meals.
But his requests fell on deaf ears, while Australian media portrayed players as petulant and selfish and fellow star Nick Kyrgios called Djokovic a "tool".
Djokovic later issued an open letter to say his "good intentions for my fellow competitors in Melbourne have been misconstrued".
"We all try to help each other," Spanish great Nadal told ESPN yesterday from Adelaide, where he and Djokovic are quarantining ahead of the year's opening Grand Slam in Melbourne on Feb 8.
"Some need to make public everything they do to help others," he added, in remarks widely seen as referring to Djokovic. "Others... do it in a more private way without having to publish or advertise everything we're doing."
While most players are undergoing a mandatory 14-day quarantine in Melbourne, Nadal, Djokovic and other superstars of the game - including Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka - flew into Adelaide, where they are due to play an exhibition on Friday.
It sparked mutterings about preferential treatment and Nadal admitted it had been smoother sailing.
"In Adelaide, conditions have been better than (for) most players in Melbourne," he said.
"But there are players in Melbourne who have larger rooms where they can develop physical activities, others have smaller rooms and can't have contact with their coach and their physical trainer.
"Where's the line? It's an ethical issue. Everyone has their own opinion and they are all respectable."
One of those who complained about being in a smaller room is world No. 67 Paula Badosa, the first player to test positive for Covid-19 in quarantine in Melbourne. She said she is being forced to endure "pitiful" conditions.
Badosa told Spanish newspaper Marca she felt abandoned in a small hotel room after being diagnosed with the coronavirus.
The 23-year-old, who was moved to a different hotel after testing positive, said the Melbourne quarantine was one of the worst experiences of her career.
"I don't have windows in my room that is barely 15 square metres," she said.
"It's obvious that the only thing I breathe in is the virus. I have asked for cleaning products, like a vacuum cleaner, but they haven't given me anything."
Officials said they are having discussions on how to get some equipment safely to Badosa, who has been limited to doing sit-ups in her hotel room and using water bottles as weights to try to stay in shape. - AFP
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