Tennis player Rafael Nadal takes veiled swipe at Novak Djokovic over quarantine complaints

Spanish tennis player Rafael Nadal has taken what appears as a swipe at fellow player Novak Djokovic while breaking his silence from hotel quarantine in Adelaide, reported AFP.

The Serbian world number one last week gave a list of suggestions to Tennis Australia on behalf of 72 players who are isolated in their Melbourne hotel rooms after coronavirus cases were detected on their planes.

The suggestions reportedly included moving players into private homes with tennis courts and feed them better.

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However, his requests were portrayed as selfish in Australian media and fellow star Nick Kyrgios called Djokovic a “tool”.

Djokovic then issued an open letter, which he posted on social media too, saying he had good intentions for everyone and his requests were misconstrued.

“We all try to help each other,” Spanish great Nadal told ESPN Tuesday from Adelaide, where he and Djokovic are quarantining ahead of the year’s opening Grand Slam in Melbourne on February 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 14 days of quarantine in Melbourne; Nadal, Djokovic and other superstars of the game including Serena Williams and Naomi Osaka went to Adelaide, where they are scheduled to play on Friday.