Novak Djokovic news: Has tennis proved it is bigger than its top player?

It was the story that dominated the agenda ahead of this year’s Australian Open, but Rafael Nadal was the first to inject some perspective on a tale that became a global talking point.

Novak Djokovic deportation from Melbourne after his visa was cancelled by the Australian government, ending his hopes of defending his Australian Open title and claiming a record-breaking 21st Grand Slam, was a drama that went beyond tennis earlier this month.

While support for the unvaccinated Djokovic was limited from the rest of the players in Australia, old rival Nadal was among the more vocal as he suggested tennis will always be bigger than one player.

“There is no player in history who’s more important than an event,” declared Nadal, who has been a vocal supporter of the vaccination process as tennis looks to resume some kind of normality.

While Djokovic now looks set to resume his career by playing in Dubai next month, the question over whether the first major tournament of the year will have an asterisk against it because its defending champion is absent has been answered over the last two weeks.

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Djokovic’s fans may not want to accept this reality, but the 2022 Australian Open has been one of the best Grand Slam events we have witnessed in recent years.

Thrilling matches in the men’s and women’s draw, wonderful storylines on and off the court, controversy