By Tennis star Novak Djokovic behind schedule started his 2022 campaign with a persuading 6-3, 6-3 loss of Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti at the Dubai Championships on Monday.
The 34-year-old gave no sign of rust or mental stuff from his Australian Open Saga, creating a regularly clinical showcase to slide into the second round.
It was Djokovic’s first match this year after his expectations of playing at the Australian Open were dashed after he was extradited after an 11-day saga rotating around his choice not to have a COVID-19 immunization and a dubious exception.
Two trials were engaged with the choice to send the Serb home from Melbourne with Australia’s migration minister Alex Hawke at last concluding he could fuel hostile to vax feeling.
However, back on a tennis court in the casual surrounds of Dubai’s Aviation Club, Djokovic showed exactly why he would have been the top choice to win a tenth Australian Open crown and beat Rafael Nadal to a men’s record 21st Grand Slam title.
After being cheered on to court by the late-night swarm, Djokovic travelled through the cogwheels, breaking Musetti’s serve in the fourth round of a routine first set.
He momentarily dropped his level while serving at 3-2, forced to save break focuses, but never looked undermined as his allies, numerous with Serbian banners, cheered his victors.
Djokovic crunched an eminent forehand winner in the last game and claimed victory on his first match point.
Regardless of whether Djokovic wins the Dubai title for a 6th time frame, he could lose his world number one positioning this week.
Yet, for Djokovic, who is partaking in an ATP record 361st week as number one that was the last thing on his mind as he continued from one of the most obscure not many long stretches of his renowned lifetime.
“It’s been some time since I played my last match, the gathering was fabulous,” Djokovic, who had not played since the Davis Cup Finals, said on the court playing out his brand name salute to all sides of the field.
“It was a straight-sets win so I must be fulfilled after not playing a counterpart for a few months.”
