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The Serb is back to competition. He expects young Italian Lorenzo Musetti in the first round on Monday.
Novak Djokovic is still world number 1.
AFP
World number 1 Novak Djokovic will kick off his 2022 season in Dubai early next week against Italian youngster Lorenzo Musetti, a month after he was kicked out of Melbourne without being able to defend his Australian Open title. The draw was made on Saturday.
It will be Djokovic’s first official game since the Davis Cup in December in Madrid, as he was unable to play in Melbourne, only train, not being vaccinated against the coronavirus. His visa had been definitively canceled after 15 days of an unprecedented controversy, against the backdrop of health protocols.
The memory of a rough pass of arms
It will be a reunion with the young Musetti, 19, who had led two sets to zero against the Serb at the last Roland Garros, in the round of 16. He had finally given up when “Djoko” had straightened the bar well and was leading 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-0, 4-0. Djokovic went on to win his 19th Grand Slam title, then his 20th at Wimbledon a month later.
“I’m excited to come back and play on Monday,” the 34-year-old Serb told local media on Thursday. “I miss tennis after all that has happened,” he added, referring to this Australian Open won by his great Spanish rival Rafael Nadal, now alone in the lead for men with 21 Grand Slams. , ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer (20).
With Andy Murray
Djokovic has already won this Dubai tournament five times, in which Andy Murray, the former Scottish world number 1, is also registered. The Serbian player can participate in the tournament because a coronavirus vaccine is not mandatory to enter the United Arab Emirates, where 895 new cases were announced on Thursday. He may well be able to play Roland Garros and Wimbledon later this year too, as health authorities in both countries are phasing out health restrictions.
On the other hand, nothing has yet been done for the US Open, in September in New York, where a vaccination certificate is still required. Djokovic is however on the entry list for the Indian Wells Masters 1000 (March 7-20). The Serb is not inherently ‘anti-vax’ but wants to keep control over what is injected into his body, he told the BBC this week, in his first interview since leaving the Australia.
(AFP)