Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic won his first match of 2022  when he defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 to open the Dubai Championships on Monday. This was his first win since Australia deported him last month for being unvaccinated.

For those unversed, the 34-year-old was unable to play at this year’s Australia Open after his visa was cancelled upon arrival for not being vaccinated against coronavirus. 

“I am extremely disappointed with the Court ruling to dismiss my application for judicial review of the Minister’s decision to cancel my visa, which means I cannot stay in Australia and participate in the Australian Open. I respect the Court’s ruling and I will cooperate with the relevant authorities in relation to my departure from the country,” he had said in a statement at the rime. 

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The United Arab Emirates, however, allowed him entry, and Djokovic cashed in at a tournament he’s won five times.

Musetti took two sets off Djokovic at the French Open last year but, on a breezy Dubai evening, the Italian wild card couldn’t convert bags of break chances while trailing 3-1 in the first set and 4-2 in the second.

“I have to be satisfied with my tennis, especially after not playing for two and a half, three months,” Djokovic said on court on Monday.

“Of course, there were moments when I played great, there were moments when I made a couple of unforced errors in a row uncharacteristically. But it’s normal to expect that (in my) first match after a while.”

Also Read: Sacrificing titles a price Novak Djokovic ‘willing to pay’ over vaccine stance

He next faces Karen Khachanov or Alex de Minaur.

Andy Murray won his first match in Dubai since his title run in 2017. He beat Australian qualifier Christopher O’Connell 6-7 (4), 6-3, 7-5 after nearly three hours.