Novak Djokovic started his 2022 season without trembling, a month after his expulsion from Australia, by defeating Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the first round of the Dubai tournament.
For his return to competition, the Serb, whose status as world N.1 is wavering, did not drag on the court, winning in two sets 6-3, 6-3 and an hour 14 of play.
I couldn't have hoped for a better reception.
A lot of time has passed since I played my last match, I couldn't choose a better place to kick off my season
,” he said on court at Dubai Duty Free Stadium after his win.
“
All in all, it's a win in straight sets;
I have to be happy with my tennis, especially after not playing for almost three months
,” he added.
Djokovic had to leave Australia on January 16 without being able to defend his title in the first round of the Grand Slam, expelled by the local authorities because he was not vaccinated against Covid-19.
Stripped of his title in Australia, which he had won for the ninth time in 2021, Djokovic, who is 34 years old, now risks losing the king's chair of the ATP on February 28.
His dolphin, the Russian Daniil Medvedev, finalist in Australia, can steal it from him if he wins the tournament in Acapulco, Mexico, which takes place simultaneously with the meeting in Dubai and where Nadal is also engaged.
And this, whatever the outcome in the United Arab Emirates.