JAKARTA - World number one Novak Djokovic started his 2022 season, belatedly, with a 6-3 6-3 win over Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti at the Dubai Championships on Monday evening local time or Tuesday WIB.
The 34-year-old showed no sign of the mental burden of the Australian Open visa saga that rocked the sporting world, and made it easy to advance to the second round, afterwards describing the match as "an enjoyable experience."
It was Djokovic's first match of the year after his hopes at the Australian Open were dashed when he was deported following the 11-day story surrounding his decision not to get a COVID-19 vaccine and the controversial exemption he was granted to play in the match.
Two court hearings are needed before Djokovic is expelled on January 16 after spending several days in a detention hotel, with Australia's immigration minister ruling that he could stoke anti-vaccine sentiment if allowed to compete.
Returning to Dubai's Aviation Club tennis court, Djokovic shows why he is favorite to win a 10th Australian Open crown and beat Rafa Nadal to claim his 21st Grand Slam title.
After gaining support from the crowd, he moved forward, breaking Musetti in the fourth game of the first set.
"I couldn't ask for a better reception."🙌@DjokerNole | @DDFTennis | #DDFTennis pic.twitter.com/C7FY0bvdum
— ATP Tour (@atptour) February 21, 2022
Djokovic, who accompanied an entourage including his wife Jelena, got an early break in the second set with a forehand winner.
He briefly faltered on serve at 3-2 and was forced to save break points, but never looked threatened as his supporters, many with Serbian flags, cheered for his win.
Djokovic hit a superb forehand in the final game and took the win on his first match point.
Even if he wins the Dubai title for a sixth time, he could lose his world number one ranking this week if Russian Danill Medvedev wins the Acapulco title.
However, for Djokovic, who is enjoying a record 361st ATP weekend as number one, it was the last thing on his mind as he forgot one of the darkest episodes of his career.
"I couldn't have asked for a better welcome. It's been a while since I played my last game and I couldn't have chosen a better place to start the season," said Djokovic, who has not played since the Davis Cup Final last November.
Djokovic, who last week said he was not against vaccines but was prepared to skip a major tournament rather than be vaccinated, will have the day off before facing either Russia's Karen Khachanov or Australia's Alex de Minaur.
When asked how his fellow players responded, he said they were "very friendly".
"The majority of them actually welcomed me and said it was great to see me back on tour," said Djokovic.
"It makes me feel great. I'm very grateful for that because having that kind of understanding I can at least say, if not the support from my friends and colleagues, is very important to me because they are people I often meet sometimes. sometimes more than my family."
"I really care about the relationship we have."
While Djokovic has no problem being allowed to play in Dubai, he said he will not currently be able to play at Indian Wells, due to strict vaccine laws in the United States.
"From today I can't play. But let's see what happens. Maybe things change in the next few weeks."
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