DUBAI, UAE—
Novak Djokovic faces
Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti in Dubai next week in a tough first round
comeback following the drama surrounding his Australian Open deportation.
اضافة اعلان
The world number one makes his return to the court on
Monday after the coronavirus vaccine row that kept him from defending his
Australian Open title.
Djokovic and wild card Musetti have history, with the
19-year-old taking the first two sets off the Serb when they met in last year's
French Open.
Musetti eventually retired due to injury with Djokovic
leading the last 16 clash 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-0, 4-0.
Djokovic went on to seal the title at
Roland Garros
for his 19th Grand Slam, with his 20th secured at Wimbledon the following
month.
The 34-year-old has kept a low profile since his
deportation from Australia last month over his refusal to get jabbed.
"I am excited to go back and play on
Monday," he told media in Dubai on Thursday.
"I miss tennis after all that has
happened."
Spanish rival
Rafael Nadal won the Australian Open to
become the first man to win 21 major titles, one ahead of Djokovic and Roger
Federer.
Djokovic, who last hit a ball in anger in the Davis
Cup in Madrid in December, is a five-time winner in Dubai.
The event also features Britain's Andy Murray, who has
three major titles to his name and who will start against a qualifier.
Second seed
Andrey Rublev has a first round date with
Britain's Dan Evans, while Saturday's draw pitted last year's Dubai winner
Aslan Karatsev against American Mackenzie McDonald.
Djokvoic is able to play in the tournament as a
coronavirus vaccine is not a requirement to enter the UAE, which announced 895
new cases on Thursday.
His path to playing at the
French Open and Wimbledon
has appeared to clear in recent days after Britain relaxed COVID entry rules
and France also signaled an easing of restrictions.
The most problematic tournament for Djokovic at the
moment is the US Open, where a vaccination certificate is required.
There are also two high-profile tournaments coming up
in the US — Indian Wells from March 7 to 20, where he is on the entry list, and
the
Miami Open from March 21 to April 3.
Djokovic told the BBC this week he was "sad and
disappointed" about the row in Australia. But he insisted his health comes
above making history.
"The principles of decision making on my body are
more important than any title or anything else," he said.
"I was never against vaccination," added
Djokovic, who said he had received vaccines as a child. "But I've
always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body."
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