<p>Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal on Thursday welcomed the decision to grant his Serbian rival Novak Djokovic a visa which will enable him to compete at the 2023 event, describing it as "the best news possible".</p>.<p>In a sensational series of events in 2022, Djokovic was detained and deported from Australia over his non-vaccinated status on Covid-19/</p>.<p>He was initially barred by the then-conservative government from returning to Australia until 2025 but Australia's new Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said that with a significant easing in pandemic restrictions, the nine-time champion was now welcome to return.</p>.<p>Nadal, who won the event in Djokovic's absence, has a men's record 22 individual Grand Slam titles to the Serb's 21, with Australia the next of the four annual major tournaments.</p>.<p>"I always said the same: tennis is better when the best players are on the court," said Nadal after his consolation victory over Casper Ruud at the ATP Finals in Turin.</p>.<p>"Roger (Federer) is not playing any more. I missed a lot of Grand Slams for injuries. And last year Novak was not able to play there," said the Spanish clay-court supremo.</p>.<p>"That's past. What's next is Novak will be able to play again.</p>.<p>"That's the best news possible, especially knowing that now the virus is more under control - seems - around the world. So why not?</p>.<p>"(I'm) Happy for him. Happy for the tournament. Happy for the fans. That's it."</p>.<p>Nadal, the top seed the ATP finals in the absence of injured world number one Carlos Alcaraz, bowed out at the pool stage in spite of his 7-5, 7-5 win over Ruud on Thursday.</p>.<p>He had already been eliminated after losing his first two matches in the Green Group to Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime.</p>
<p>Australian Open champion Rafael Nadal on Thursday welcomed the decision to grant his Serbian rival Novak Djokovic a visa which will enable him to compete at the 2023 event, describing it as "the best news possible".</p>.<p>In a sensational series of events in 2022, Djokovic was detained and deported from Australia over his non-vaccinated status on Covid-19/</p>.<p>He was initially barred by the then-conservative government from returning to Australia until 2025 but Australia's new Immigration Minister Andrew Giles said that with a significant easing in pandemic restrictions, the nine-time champion was now welcome to return.</p>.<p>Nadal, who won the event in Djokovic's absence, has a men's record 22 individual Grand Slam titles to the Serb's 21, with Australia the next of the four annual major tournaments.</p>.<p>"I always said the same: tennis is better when the best players are on the court," said Nadal after his consolation victory over Casper Ruud at the ATP Finals in Turin.</p>.<p>"Roger (Federer) is not playing any more. I missed a lot of Grand Slams for injuries. And last year Novak was not able to play there," said the Spanish clay-court supremo.</p>.<p>"That's past. What's next is Novak will be able to play again.</p>.<p>"That's the best news possible, especially knowing that now the virus is more under control - seems - around the world. So why not?</p>.<p>"(I'm) Happy for him. Happy for the tournament. Happy for the fans. That's it."</p>.<p>Nadal, the top seed the ATP finals in the absence of injured world number one Carlos Alcaraz, bowed out at the pool stage in spite of his 7-5, 7-5 win over Ruud on Thursday.</p>.<p>He had already been eliminated after losing his first two matches in the Green Group to Taylor Fritz and Felix Auger-Aliassime.</p>