DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – Novak Djokovic kicks off the 2022 season in Dubai on Monday with the ambition to maintain his No. 1 spot in the world, a month after being ousted from Australia where he failed to defend his chances. at its first Grand Slam of the year without having been vaccinated against COVID-19.

While the Serb will return late to the UAE, his opponent Rafael Nadal will try to confirm his return to the forefront in Acapulco after offering himself a 21st Grand Slam title in Melbourne in late January, a record for men. .

Thus, the Spaniard had surpassed by one point in the list of “Majors” the Swiss Roger Federer, who is still recovering, and therefore Djokovic, whose cancellation of participation in the Australian Open, against the background of health protocols, had become a front page.

To justify his arrival in Australia without being vaccinated, the 34-year-old Serb had requested, on the grounds that he had been infected by COVID a few weeks earlier, an exemption that had never been granted to him. And his visa had been permanently canceled after 15 days of unprecedented controversy.

Since then, Djokovic has been vacationing in Serbia with his family, and this week he left his silence for the BBC and then Serbian television. He is not “anti-vax”, he made it clear, but he wants to continue to “control what we inject” into his body.

He also said he was “ready to pay the price” for his beliefs, even if it would cost him his place in the other three major tournaments this season, namely Roland-Garros (May 22 – June 5) at Wimbledon. (June 27 – July). 10), the United States Open (August 29-September 11) and the de facto fight for the record.

“We all hope that the health crisis will turn in a positive direction, but if that does not change, we will need a vaccination card and therefore Novak Djokovic will not be with us,” French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu told Roland-Garros. on the RTL microphone on Sunday.

No vaccines in Dubai

In Dubai, the No. 1 in the world can participate in the tournament, because the coronavirus vaccine is not mandatory to enter the Emirates, where 895 new cases were announced on Thursday.

Knowing that I was coming to Dubai, I had something to prepare, I had a goal. “Now that I’m here, I can say that I’m as well prepared as possible and that I’m excited to play in the circuit again,” Djoko said, seeking a sixth title in Dubai during a news conference on Sunday.

After Dubai, it is on the list for the Indian Wells Masters 1000 (March 7-20) in the California desert. However, he has no right to enter American territory without being vaccinated.

“I can not choose at this time. It really is where I can go and play. “Wherever I have the opportunity, I will probably use it and go play because it is always what I like to do”, said the No. 1 in the world.

Reunion with Musetti

On Monday, Djokovic will find young Lorenzo Musetti (19, 57th in the world) who had struggled in June in his quest for a second trophy at Roland Garros.

During the round of 16 in Paris, the Serbian champion had lost the first two sets before reversing the trend, while Musetti eventually gave up in the fifth set (6-7 (7), 6-7 (2), 6-1 , 6-0, 4-0).

For Djokovic, the challenge will also be to retain the chair of the ATP king that No. 2 in the world, Russian Daniel Medvedev, who participates in the Acapulco tournament, can thank him at the end of the week. The finalist of the last Australian Open can climb to the top if he wins the title in Mexico regardless of the result of “Djoko” in the Emirates.

“If it happens this week, I will be the first to congratulate him,” Djokovic said of the Russian.

But the competition promises to be tough in Acapulco with, with the exception of Nadal, initially opposed to the American Riley Opelka, the Greek Stefanos Tsitsipas and the German Alexander Zverev.

For his part, Djokovic hopes to find good feelings quickly, the one who has not played since December 3rd and the defeat in Madrid with Serbia from Croatia in the Davis Cup semifinals.