“The only camera we were missing down in Australia was one on Novak Djokovic’s face when Rafael Nadal made it to No. 21" - Andrew Castle
In a recent interview with Tennis365, Andrew Castle joked that there should have been a camera on Novak Djokovic when Rafael Nadal won his 21st Major at the 2022 Australian Open.
The former British No. 1 believes Djokovic will be tremendously motivated after witnessing the Spaniard's historic victory in Melbourne.
“The only camera we were missing down in Australia was one on Novak’s face on match point when Nadal made it to No. 21. After seeing that, I can imagine Novak’s motivation will be 100 percent moving forward," said Castle.
Andrew Castle has told (obsessive Kev) that Novak Djokovic’s deportation drama in Australia may give him extra incentive to shine when he returns to action later this month
Sorry mate.
tennis365.com/tennis-news/no…
With his triumph in Australia, Nadal moved ahead of Roger Federer and Djokovic in the Grand Slam race.
Considering the Spaniard's incredible record at the French Open, he will be heavily fancied to win his 22nd Major in Paris, further widening the gap between himself and his rivals.
He made history as the only player to ever win 21 Grand Slams.
See how @RafaelNadal achieved this record 😤
#Rafa21
In the interview, Castle said he missed seeing Djokovic at the Australian Open regardless of the way the Serb conducted himself.
Novak Djokovic extends his record number of Australian Open men's singles titles to nine with a straight-sets win over Daniil Medvedev.
“While we rightly celebrated that magnificent final with Nadal and (Daniil) Medvedev, Djokovic has won that tournament nine times and we just want to see him there," said Castle.
“I want to see the very best giving it one last slog over the next year, two years or three years, so I missed Novak down there, regardless of my personal opinion of the way he conducted himself," added the former British No. 1.
Castle also showered praise on Nadal, highlighting that the Spaniard showed "real glamor" in the final against Daniil Medvedev. The World No. 5 fought back from two sets down in the final against the Russian to win his first Australian Open title since 2009.
“It was a great tournament down in Australia and there are new names emerging in the game, but Rafa showed up and reminded us what real glamor is with a five-hour final and a narrative you could never [have] written," said the 58-year-old.
“My own personal view is he wasn’t treated entirely correctly at all times" - Andrew Castle on Novak Djokovic's visa saga
In the same interview, Castle pointed out that "a vast amount of politics" were involved in Djokovic's visa saga and that the Serb wasn't treated "entirely correctly" in Australia. The World No. 1 was initially granted a medical exemption to participate in the Australian Open but was deported from the country after his visa was rejected.
However, the Brit feels that with "a bit of luck," the World No. 1 can "get back to doing what he does best."
Novak Djokovic has been deported after losing a last-ditch court bid to stay in Australia. The unvaccinated tennis star was seen boarding a late-night flight from Melbourne to Dubai. 7news.link/SentPacking https://t.co/oMeN6Sthcs
“My own personal view is he wasn’t treated entirely correctly at all times in that one. There was a vast amount of politics in it, with the elections in Australia and the restrictions they had to endure were so difficult. With a bit of luck it fizzles out and he can get back to doing what he does best," concluded Castle.
Novak Djokovic set for return to action in Dubai after missing Australian Open #SportsNews #Tennis 🎾
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Novak Djokovic will next feature at the Dubai Tennis Championships, a tournament he has won five times in his career.
Also read: "We are absolutely with Novak Djokovic, ATP is simply an organization that is a puppet of large corporations" - Wimbledon doubles champion Nikola Mektic