A new season for Novak Djokovic is set to start on Monday in Dubai, and the world number one says that the locker room has been “friendly and welcoming” since he came back. Djokovic’s season was stopped in January when he was deported from Australia.
Djokovic was denied the opportunity to win a tenth Australian Open and twenty-first Grand Slam after his visa was revoked in Melbourne and he was eventually expelled for failing to get vaccinated.
He returns to the tour this week in the United Arab Emirates, where he will compete for the first time since December’s Davis Cup Finals in Madrid.
Djokovic addressed the media on Sunday night before his first round match against Italian wildcard Lorenzo Musetti. He discussed how it feels to be back on the tennis tour and if there has been any negative response from his colleagues.
“So far, the majority of gamers I’ve encountered here have been nice and kind. Obviously, it’s pleasant to watch. That was not the situation in Australia, as far as I am aware. It was odd in a way. However, so far, everything is OK here, “the 34-year-old Serb said.
The organisers of the ATP tournament in Dubai have called the first day ‘Magnificent Monday,‘ and a couple of other star players, Marin Cilic and Andy Murray, will also compete.
However, all eyes will be on Djokovic, who most recently competed in Serbia’s Davis Cup semi-final loss to Croatia.
Djokovic, who saw Rafael Nadal win his 21st major in Australia, is eligible to play in Dubai since a coronavirus vaccination is not required for entry to the United Arab Emirates.
The Serbian is a five-time victor in Dubai, and he begins his season with a point to prove and his world number one status in jeopardy.
Even if he wins in Dubai, Djokovic risks losing the top ranking he has had since February 2020 to Daniil Medvedev, who is competing this week in Acapulco, Mexico, about 15,000 kilometres away.
Even if Djokovic successfully defends his status this week, his unwillingness to be vaccinated might create complications and lose him ranking points, especially with two Masters events in the United States coming up.
‘Abide by the rules’ —
He is on the entrance list for Indian Wells, which runs from March 7 through March 20, despite the fact that the tournament is now limited to vaccinated athletes. Following that, the Miami Open takes place from March 21 to April 3, 2019.
All I have to do is obey the rules. Whatever event I am able to play, I will make every effort to get to that nation and compete, “Djokovic stated Sunday.
At the moment, I really am unable to select. It’s truly about finding a place to play. Wherever I get a chance, I’m going to take it and perform because this is what I do and what I love to do. “
Three more Grand Slam events remain to be played – the French Open, Wimbledon, and the US Open.
Djokovic holds the Roland Garros and All England Club titles.
If the health problem does not improve, he will need a vaccination permit and hence be unable to attend the French Open,“ French Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu told RTL radio on Sunday.
Musetti and Djokovic have clashed before, with the 19-year-old snatching the opening two sets off the Serb at last year’s French Open.
Musetti subsequently quit from the match owing to injury, with Djokovic leading 6-7 (7/9), 6-7 (2/7), 6-1, 6-0, 4-0 in the last 16.
Cilic, a former world number three, will start the tournament on Monday against Jiri Vesely of the Czech Republic.
Murray is scheduled to play Australian Christopher O’Connell directly before Djokovic.
Murray, 34, is playing with a metal hip after surgery in 2019 and won only one game last week in Qatar before being crushed by Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut.
Andrey Rublev, the second seed, is coming off a tenth career triumph in Marseille over the weekend. He will meet Briton Dan Evans on Tuesday.
Felix Auger-Aliassime, the third-seeded Canadian, will face Georgian Nikoloz Basilashvili, while Jannik Sinner, the fourth-seeded Italian, will face Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.
Aslan Karatsev, last year’s Dubai champion, will square up against American Mackenzie McDonald.
