DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – World No. 1 Novak Djokovic will start the 2022 season in Dubai early next week against Italian youngster Lorenzo Musetti, a month after being sacked from Melbourne without a title. International Championship. according to the draw that took place on Saturday.
It will be Djokovic’s first official match since the Davis Cup in December in Madrid, as he could not play in Melbourne, only training, without being vaccinated against the coronavirus.
His visa was permanently canceled after 15 days without prior dispute, against the backdrop of health protocols.
It will be a reunion with the young Museti, 19 years old, who had led two sets to zero against the Serb in the last Roland Garros, in the round of 16. He finally gave up when “Djoko” had leveled the bar well and was ahead with 6 -7 (7), 6-7 (2), 6-1, 6-0, 4-0.
Djokovic won his 19th Grand Slam title and his 20th at Wimbledon a month later.
“I’m excited to be back and play on Monday,” Djokovic, 34, told local media on Thursday. “I miss tennis after all that has happened,” he added, referring to the Australian Open won by Rafael Nadal’s great Spanish opponent, now alone at the top of the men’s 21 Grand Slam. , ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer (20).
Djokovic has already won this Dubai tournament five times, including Andy Murray, Scotland’s former world number one.
The world number one can participate in the tournament because the coronavirus vaccine is not mandatory for entry into 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, as health authorities in both countries are phasing out health restrictions.
On the other hand, nothing has been done yet for United States International in September in New York, where a vaccination certificate is still required. Djokovic, however, is on the roster for the Indian Wells Masters 1000 (March 7-20).
The Serb is not fundamentally “anti-fax”, but he wants to stay in control of what is injected into his body, he explained this week to BBCin his first interview since leaving Australia.
