Novak Djokovic vs Lorenzo Musetti LIVE: Tennis result in Dubai plus Andy Murray score
The Serbian was playing for the first time since being deported from Australia ahead of the 2022 Australian Open
Novak Djokovic made a winning return to tennis in his first match since being deported from Australia as the men’s world No 1 defeated Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets at the Dubai Duty Free Championships.
Djokovic, who was cheered on by a supportive crowd in Dubai, made light work of the 19-year-old Musetti to seal a 6-3 6-3 win in what was his first match in three months following the controversy that surrounded his Covid-19 vaccination status at the Australian Open last month.
The Serbian missed the opening grand slam of the year amid a battle in the Australian courts over his exemption for the vaccine that ultimately saw him deported from the country ahead of the tournament on “health and safety” grounds.
Djokovic, who remains unvaccinated, has said he is prepared to miss future grand slams over his stance but was able to enter the tournament in Dubai, a tournament where he is a five-time champion.
The world No 1 was welcomed onto the court and the crowd chanted ‘Novak, Novak!’ upon the 20-time major champion taking the opening break of serve midway through the first set.
Djokovic had not played a competitive match since the Davis Cup finals in early December of last year but it did not take long for the Serbian to get back up to speed as he swiftly saw off the challenge of the highly-rated Musetti.
Follow live reaction from Djokovic vs Musetti - after Andy Murray outlasted Chris O’Connell in three sets
Murray faces qualifier Chris O’Connell in opening round
Murray was handed a wildcard in the Dubai main draw and the world No 89 has received a favourable opening match against the Australian qualifier Chris O’Connell.
O’Connell, the world No 158, reached the third round of the Australian Open on home soil last month, defeating the No 13 seed Diego Schwartzman along the way.
Murray would be expected to progress through to the second round, where a tough last-16 tie against Jannik Sinner could await.
Murray vs O’Connell gets underway shortly in Dubai.
British hopes at Dubai Duty Free
Rublev faces a tough opening round opponent, though, after being drawn against British No 1 and world No 28 Dan Evans.
Evans suffered a last-16 exit in Qatar last week, which was at the same stage that Andy Murray had his straight-sets defeat to Bautista Agut.
The 6-0, 6-1 demolition was Murray’s heaviest on the ATP Tour since 2014 and it rather took the shine off his opening victory over Taro Daniel.
Djokovic faces tough draw in Dubau
Djokovic is a five-time champion in Dubai - only Roger Federer has won the tournament more - but the Serbian has been handed a tough draw at the Duty Free Tennis championship.
Karen Khachanov awaits in the second round if he can get past the talented young Italian Lorenzo Musetti this afternoon. Looking further down the line, a quarter-final meeting with the in-form Roberto Bautista Agut could await him, with the Spaniard winning the title last week in Qatar.
Felix Auger-Aliassime could have been his semi-final opponent but the Canadian has withdrawn from the tournament with a back injury. Auger-Aliassime was defeated in the final of the Marseille Open by Andrey Rublev on Sunday, and the Russian is the top seed in the bottom half of the draw.
Djokovic will be ‘first to congratulate’ Medvedev if replaced as world No 1
Novak Djokovic says he will be happy for Daniil Medvedev if his long run as world No 1 comes to an end this week.
“I know that he's very close and it depends what I do here," Djokovic said upon arriving in Dubai.
"I'm not aware of all the different scenarios but the only scenario I have in my head is to win every match that I play here.”
When informed of the permutations, Djokovic said: “It’s in his hands but he deserves to be No 1.
“Eventually it’s going to happen and if it happens this week I’ll be the first one to congratulate him.”
Novak Djokovic faces fight to keep world number one ranking
Novak Djokovic could be knocked off world No 1 this week, with Daniil Medvedev aiming to become the latest men’s player to top the tennis singles rankings.
After controversially missing out on the Australian Open in January, Djokovic is set to return to the court at the Dubai Duty Free Championship this afternoon.
The Serbian does not require to be vaccinated to compete in Dubai but has revealed that he is prepared to miss both the French Open and Wimbledon over his stance.
Djokovic could also miss ATP 1000 tournaments at Indian Wells, California and Miami, Florida next month, which could mean a significant shift in the men’s world rankings.
The top spot is up for grabs this month, however, and men’s tennis will have a new No 1 for the first time in two years if Medvedev betters Djokovic’s result in Dubai.
Medvedev, who defeated Djokovic at the US Open final last September before reaching the Australian Open final last month, is competing at a ATP 500 event in Acapulco, Mexico.
Medvedev will become world No 1 if he wins the tournament, or if Djokovic fails to better his result. Djokovic, who is joined by Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner at the tournament in Dubai, holds the record for the most weeks spent at No 1.
Daniil Medvedev could knock Novak Djokovic off No 1 this month
Djokovic is set to return to action at the Dubai Duty Free Championships while Medvedev competes at a tournament in Acapulco, Mexico
Novak Djokovic mocked by Ryanair over comments on vaccine stance
Novak Djokovic’s latest comments on whether he would receive the Covid-19 vaccine have been mocked - by budget airline Ryanair.
It comes after Djokovic gave his first interview since being deported from Australia last month following a row over his medical exemption for the vaccine.
The men’s world No 1 told the BBC that although he is “keeping his mind open” about getting a Covid vaccine in the future, he would be prepared to miss this year’s French Open and Wimbledon tournaments over his “principles”.
Ryanair mocks Novak Djokovic’s comments on vaccine stance
The airline sent a viral tweet following Djokovic’s interview with the BBC
Novak Djokovic trains in Dubai ahead of first match since deportation from Australian
Novak Djokovic previews return to court at Dubai Duty Free Tennis championship
Djokovic maintains he is at “peak” performance ahead of his return to tour at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis championship.
“It wasn’t really difficult for me to pick up a racket and go out and practice the sport and just play. I’m as well prepared as I possibly can be,” the Serbian said.
“There were lots of emotions after I came back from Australia. It was strange. I was disappointed, I was sad about the way it all has played out and the way I left the country.
“Whatever tournament I’ll be able to play I’ll be trying to get to that country and play that tournament. I really can’t choose. It’s really about where I can go and play.
“Having previous positive experiences on the court and titles obviously connects me to this place even more. We’ll play this tournament and see how it goes further down the line.”
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