Sports News | Djokovic Wins His First Match of 2022 in Dubai

Dubai, Feb 22 (AP) Novak Djokovic won his first match of the year when he beat Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 to open the Dubai Championships here.

Djokovic couldn't defend his Australian Open title last month because he was deported from the country for being unvaccinated.

Also Read | Novak Djokovic Begins The Year by Beating Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 in Dubai Championships 2022.

The United Arab Emirates 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 on Monday.

Also Read | BFC 2-1 OFC, ISL 2021-22 Match Result: Bengaluru FC Defeat Odisha, Keep Semis Hopes Alive.

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

"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.”

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. (AP)

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)