Defending champion Rafael Nadal admitted Saturday he felt vulnerable heading into the Australian Open after two straight defeats in the build-up and said that Novak Djokovic was clear favourite. | Sport24news
The 22-time Grand Slam winner crashed in his season-opening match at the mixed teams United Cup in Sydney to 12th-ranked Cameron Norrie and then again to Australia's Alex de Minaur.The 36-year-old top seed faces a testing first-round clash at Melbourne Park on Monday against emerging 21-year-old Briton Jack Draper, who reached the Adelaide semi-finals this week.
Nadal has lost six of his last seven matches stretching back to defeat to Frances Tiafoe in the last 16 at the US Open."I have been losing more than usual, that's part of the business. Just accept the situation. I think I am humble enough to accept that situation and just work with what I have today.
That victory came after arch-rival and nine-time Australian Open winner Djokovic was detained and deported ahead of the tournament after refusing to get vaccinated for Covid-19. "If we talk about favourites, on Saturday before the start of the tournament, there is no doubt that he is the top favourite to win the title.
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