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Tennis: winner of his first match of the year, Djokovic tried "not to watch" the Australian Open final

2022-02-22T07:09:43.812Z


The world number 1 dismissed Lorenzo Musetti on Monday evening for his return to competition in Dubai, a month after his expulsion from Melbourne.


I couldn't have hoped for a better reception.

A lot of time has passed since I played my last game, I couldn't choose a better place to start my season

, "said Novak Djokovic in a press conference after his victory over the Italian Musetti, 6- 3, 6-3 in Dubai.

The 34-year-old Serb won in 1h14 after his first match since the beginning of December.

All in all, it's a win in straight sets;

I must be happy with my tennis, especially after not playing for almost three months

”.

The Australian Open final, I was trying not to watch it, but I had my family watching, everyone, my wife, my kids, so I had to follow

it,” added Novak Djokovic at a press conference after his victory.

In January, his participation in Melbourne was canceled after a long standoff with the Australian authorities because he was not vaccinated against the coronavirus.

What prevented him from defending his title and obtaining a 21st major trophy, finally won by his rival Rafael Nadal.

“It was not pleasant for me to leave the country like that and watch the tournament from afar”.

Novak Djokovic

But congratulations to Rafa.

It's an incredible performance.

He's an incredible fighter

,” he added.

I don't want to take anything away from his victory even though I didn't participate.

Of course, it was not pleasant for me to leave the country like that and watch the tournament from afar

”.

On the central court of the Dubai Duty Free Stadium on Monday, the Serbian champion received many encouragements from the public.

The nine-time winner of the Australian Open knows, however, that his reputation has taken a hit, he who went so far as to consult professionals in public relations to understand his situation, which went beyond the framework of sport to extend to politics.

"There haven't been a lot of positive stories about this whole situation in the last month.

»

Novak Djokovic

Obviously there haven't been a lot of positive stories about this whole situation over the last month.

I think things may be changing.

I hope so.

But I understand that there is still speculation and people are wondering

,” he said.

In Dubai, the world No.1 can participate in the tournament because no vaccine against the coronavirus is compulsory to enter the Emirates.

But "

to date

", he cannot enter the territory of the United States to participate in the next Masters 1000 in Indian Wells and Miami in March without being vaccinated.

Stripped of his title in Australia, which he won for the ninth time in 2021, Djokovic risks losing the ATP king's chair 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.

Source: lefigaro

All sports articles on 2022-02-22

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