Dubai: Novak Djokovic made a successful return to the tour for the first time since his deportation from Australia, kicking off his 2022 campaign with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti in Dubai on Monday. The Serbian world No.1 was greeted by loud cheers from a packed Dubai Duty Free Tennis Stadium as he commenced his quest for a sixth title in the Emirates in style. I couldn’t ask for a better reception. It’s been a while since I played the last match, I couldn’t pick a better place to kick-start the season, said Djokovic.
Best possible experience tonight, thanks very much for your support and welcoming me on court the way you did, added Djokovic on court as ‘Nole, Nole’ chants rang throughout the arena.
The 34-year-old’s hopes of winning a 10th Australian Open, and 21st Grand Slam, in Melbourne last month were shattered when he had his visa cancelled and was deported for not being vaccinated against Covid-19.
Djokovic can play in Dubai as a coronavirus vaccine is not a requirement to enter the United Arab Emirates.
Djokovic’s win over 19-year-old Musetti was his first competitive match since the Davis Cup Finals in Madrid last December.
It was a rematch of their Roland Garros fourth round from last spring, where Musetti led Djokovic by two-sets-to-love before retiring in the decider.
A break of serve in the fourth game of the contest saw Djokovic inch ahead and he had to stave off a trio of break points to consolidate his advantage and lead 4-1.
The top seed needed just 36 minutes to take the opening set, sending the buoyant Dubai crowd to its feet.
Another early break gave Djokovic control of the second set but he became increasingly frustrated when he faced four break points en route to a 4-2 hold, roaring in anger towards his team in the stands.
That only fired Djokovic up even more as he comfortably marched into the last 16 in 74 minutes.
The 20-time major champion now awaits the winner of the first-round duel between Karen Khachanov and Alex de Minaur.
Earlier, former world No.1 Andy Murray battled for nearly three hours against Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell before advancing to the second round with a 6-7 (4/7), 6-3, 7-5 victory.
Murray is now just one win shy of his goal of reaching 700 career match-wins and could check that item off his bucket list if he comes out victorious in his next clash against either Italian No.4 seed Jannik Sinner or Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.