Rafael Nadal is taking no pleasure from Novak Djokovic missing the US Open despite it boosting the Spaniard's chances in Flushing Meadows.
In the early hours of Wednesday morning Nadal, 36, will open his campaign in New York against Australia's Rinky Hijikata. The Spaniard is bidding for a third Grand Slam title in 2022, to add to his Australian Open and French Open wins.
A fifth triumph at Flushing Meadows would also take his career total of Slam titles to 23, two clear of Djokovic after the Serbian star narrowed the gap by winning Wimbledon. Furthermore, the 36-year-old also has the chance to break his rival's record by ending the year as the oldest ever world No 1.
Djokovic himself confirmed he was withdrawing from the tournament last week over his continued refusal to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Current US regulations forbid people travelling to the US if they haven't received their jabs.
It follows him also being deported home in January just a day before the Australian Open began, whilst earlier this year he missed events in Indian Wells and Miami for the same reason. However, he's remained defiant, insisting he won't get vaccinated purely to enter more tennis events.
And, rather than revel in his absence, Nadal has described the latest development as 'sad' news: "From my personal perspective, it's very sad news. It's always a shame when the best players of the world are not able to play a tournament because of injuries or because of different reasons," he said, via the Daily Mail.
'In this case, not having one of the best players of history in the draw of a Grand Slam is always an important miss. It's tough for the fans, tough for the tournament. In my opinion, tough for the players, too, because we want to have the best field possible.
Nadal himself is no stranger to enduring the disappointment of missing out on a Slam. He missed the 2021 US Open due to a longstanding foot injury, and was forced to withdraw from his semi-final match with Nick Kyrgios at Wimbledon with an abdominal injury.
And he referenced that notion when implying that the show would still go on at Flushing Meadows: "But, on the other hand, I repeat what I said plenty of times: the sport in some ways is bigger than any player.
"I missed a lot of important events in my tennis career because of injuries. Last year I was not here. Two years ago I was not here. The tournament continues. The world of tennis keeps going."
Nadal is seeded second for the tournament, behind defending champion Daniil Medvedev. The Russian toppled Djokovic in the final last year - denying him a fourth successive Slam.
Medvedev himself has had to deal with missing a major event in 2022 though. He wasn't permitted to compete at Wimbledon due to Russian and Belarusian players being banned amid the war in Ukraine.
