Djokovic wins first match of 2022 after not playing in Australian Open

Novak Djokovic famously missed out on competing in last month’s Australian Open due to his refusal to receive one of the safe and available COVID-19 vaccines, vowed to opt out of future Grand Slam events if they require players to be vaccinated against the coronavirus, and confidently stated ahead of the ongoing Dubai Tennis Championships that he feels he’s at his « peak. »

Djokovic looked like his old self back on the court on Monday.

Per George Ramsay and David Close of CNN, Djokovic cruised past Lorenzo Musetti 6-3 6-3 in his first competitive match of 2022. He will face either Karen Khachanov or Alex de Minaur in the tournament’s next round.

« I couldn’t ask for a better reception. It’s been a while since I played the last match — I couldn’t pick a better place to kick-start the season, » Djokovic said during his post-match on-the-court interview. « It was the best possible experience tonight and thank you very much for your support and welcoming me on the court the way you did. »

Per Sky Sports, Djokovic made just seven unforced errors and needed roughly 75 minutes to notch his latest triumph.

« All in all, it’s a straight-sets win so I have to be satisfied with my tennis, especially after not playing for two-and-a-half, almost three months, » he added during his comments. « Of course there were moments when I played great and there were moments when I made a couple of unforced errors in a row, uncharacteristically.

« It’s normal to expect that during the first match after a while [out]. I’m glad that I managed to finish the job in straight sets against a very talented player. »