My Sports Novak Djokovic: World No 1 comfortably beats Lorenzo Musetti on return to ATP Tour https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news |
Novak Djokovic won his first match back on the ATP Tour, beating Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 6-3 at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship.
“As of today, not. I can’t go, I can’t enter the United States,” he said.
The contest marked his competitive return to the Tour and his first match of the year, after being deported from Australia last month.
“As of today I’m not able to play. But let’s see what happens. I mean, maybe things change in the next few weeks.”
Djokovic received an extremely positive reception from the fans in the stands, with Serbian flags flying throughout and his name being chanted by the fans. “I couldn’t have asked for a better reception,” Djokovic said on court after his 75-minute win. “It’s been a while since I played my last match, I couldn’t have picked a better place to kick-start the season and [have] the best possible experience. Thank you very much for your support and welcoming me the way that you did.” Djokovic showed few signs of rustiness during his time on court and won 77 per cent of points behind his first serve and saved all seven of the break points Musetti created against him.
made just seven unforced errors in comFormer world numparison to Musetti’s 13 and the 34-year- ber one Andy Murray was asked about old worked well behind his second serve Djokovic’s situation in his press confertoo. ence following his win over Christopher O’Connell. “All in all, it’s a straight-sets win so I have to be satisfied with my tennis, especially Murray said: “Like I said at the time, I after not playing for two-and-a-half, al- don’t agree with his decision. I think it most three months,” the world No 1 said. would be a lot easier for him, obviously, if he was to get vaccinated. “Of course there were moments when I played great and there were moments “But I also didn’t like seeing him in the when I made a couple of unforced errors situation that he was in Australia as in a row, uncharacteristically. someone that I respect and have known since I was a child. I didn’t like seeing “It’s normal to expect that during the first that. match after a while [out]. I’m glad that I managed to finish the job in straight sets “There is consequences to the decisions against a very talented player.” he’s made just now. He obviously has to accept that. But I don’t think it’s great for Djokovic will now face either Alex de tennis if our best player is not competing Minaur or Karen Khachanov in the in the major events.” round of 16.
The world No 1 struck the ball cleanly from the back of the court and purposefully came into the net to finish off quick At his press conference after victory, Djokovic admitted that, as things stand, points behind his serve too. he will be unable to enter next month’s Over the course of the two sets, Djokovic prestigious Indian Wells Masters.
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