We had not seen Novak Djokovic on a court since December 3, 2021 when he got the better of the Croatian Marin Cilic (6-4,6-2) during the group stages of the Davis Cup in Madrid.
He had since been left at Melbourne airport when, not being vaccinated against Covid-19, he had been expelled from the Island-continent after days of a very strange and incredible soap opera: “I I had a torrent of emotions when I came back from Australia obviously, so I needed some time to reflect and mentally rest.
And then I couldn't wait to play tennis again,” said the world number 1 on Sunday.
His position had prevented him from playing the Australian Open and possibly winning a 21st Grand Slam title.
Djokovic VS Musetti - first set goes to Djokovic 6-3!
🎾🔥 pic.twitter.com/DDnITcQ8mp
— Dubai Tennis Champs (@DDFTennis) February 21, 2022
We found Novak Djokovic on a court this Monday evening in Dubai.
The Serb thus remained 73 days without playing, the longest period without injury of his career.
After two and a half months without a net, he made his comeback against the Italian Lorenzo Musetti, 57th in the world.
The latter had pushed him to the fifth set (6-7, 6-7, 6-1, 6-0, 4-0) in their last clash in the round of 16 at Roland-Garros in 2021 before the Italian don't give up.
It is 7:22 p.m. French time this Monday evening when the Serb enters the court.
The stands are full.
It is already dark in Dubai and it is in the light of the spotlights that the world number 1 hits his first balls of the year 2022. If tennis is like cycling, Djokovic has lost nothing: he takes first service and dominates his young rival by taking off.
He won the first set 6-3.
The Italian resists better in the second.
But the boss remains the boss and Djoko finally wins in two sets 6-3, 6-3.
It is 8:37 p.m. in Paris, three more hours in Dubai and Djokovic has made a successful comeback in just 1:13 of play. The winner of the match between Russian Khachanov and Australian De Minaur, scheduled for Tuesday, will be waiting for him in the second round.
You don't need a vaccine to play in Dubai
But by the way, why did the Serb choose this ATP 500 ranked tournament for his expected comeback?
As a reminder, an ATP 500 arrives in the hierarchy of tournaments behind the Grand Slams and the Masters 1000. The answer is simple: to enter the United Arab Emirates, vaccination is not compulsory.
A boon for the Serb, who has limited possibilities of engagement because of his refusal to be stung.
He could still miss a good part of the tournaments of the season, starting with the American tour (Indian Wells and Miami, the first two Masters 1000 of the year).
Djokovic is however on the entry list for Indian Wells (March 7-20), in the Californian desert.
But only vaccinated people, unless waived, are allowed to enter American soil.
Problem, necessarily: “I can't really choose at the moment.
It's really about where I can go and play.
Wherever an opportunity arises, I'll probably use it and go play because that's always what I love to do.
“The principles that drive decision making about my body are more important than a title or anything.
I will follow the rules and whatever tournament I can participate in, I will try to go to this country and play, ”said the world No.1.
His positive Covid test on December 16 only gives him a certificate of recovery until mid-April.
His participation in Roland-Garros is therefore compromised at this time.
“We all hope that the health crisis will evolve in a positive direction, but if that does not change,
At the top of world tennis for 360 weeks, Djokovic could lose his place as world number 1 in the next ranking.
It does not matter whether he wins the tournament in Dubai or not: he will be dislodged from his throne if Daniil Medvedev wins this week at the Acapulco tournament in Mexico.
He will be too, regardless of the Russian's result, if he does not reach the quarter-finals in Dubai: “If that happens this week, I will be the first to congratulate him” promises Djokovic.