Rafael Nadal of Spain poses for pictures after a press conference with team members at the Tennis Centre in Sydney on December 28, 2022, ahead of the United Cup tennis tournament. It will provide a warm-up for his defence of the Australian Open title next month at Melbourne Park, where he swept past Russian Daniil Medvedev to win this year in an epic five-setter. That victory came after arch-rival and nine-time Australian Open winner Novak Djokovic was detained and deported ahead of the tournament after refusing to get vaccinated for Covid-19. “Novak is here, good for tennis, good for probably the fans,” the world number two said in Sydney. I am ready to make that happen, but let’s see.”Nadal played his first Australian Open in 2004.

Source: Manila Times December 28, 2022 20:01 UTC