A month on from when he was once deported from Australia forward of the Australian Open, Djokovic returned to the tennis court docket to loud cheers in Dubai for a event he has gained on 5 earlier events.
And it took him only one hour and 14 mins to wrap up the victory in opposition to 19-year-old Musetti and arrange a second-round assembly with both Karen Khachanov or Alex de Minaur, who play on Tuesday.
“I could not ask for a greater reception. It is been some time since I performed the closing fit — I could not select a greater position to kick-start the season,” Djokovic later stated in his on-court interview.
“It was once the most productive conceivable enjoy this night and thanks very a lot to your reinforce and alluring me at the court docket the best way you probably did.”
Djokovic changed into embroiled in controversy when he arrived in Australia in January with out a legitimate Covid-19 vaccination exemption.
He was once later deported, lacking out at the likelihood to protect his Australian Open identify and win a record-breaking twenty first grand slam identify.
Earlier than Monday’s recreation in Dubai, Djokovic advised newshounds that “there was once a lot of feelings when I got here again from Australia, so I wanted just a little little bit of time to mirror and to only mentally leisure.”
The Serbian got here out firing in opposition to Italy’s Musetti, breaking his opponent within the fourth recreation of the primary set to take a 3-1 lead.
He then needed to save 3 smash issues from 0-40 down the next recreation, earlier than happening to wrap up the primary set.
Djokovic broke Musetti as soon as once more in the beginning of the second one set to take company regulate of the fit, even supposing he additionally needed to save extra smash issues over the process the set — a complete of 7 over the process the fit.
A 3rd smash of Musetti’s serve at 5-3 sealed the win.
“All in all, it is a straight-set win so in fact I must be happy with my tennis, particularly after now not enjoying for two-and-a-half, virtually 3 months,” Djokovic stated.
“There have been moments once I performed nice, there have been moments once I made a few unforced mistakes in a row uncharacteristically. However it is standard to be expecting that within the first fit for some time.”
Djokovic has spent a listing 361 weeks as international No. 1, however he may lose his spot on the best of the scores if Daniil Medvedev wins this week’s Mexican Open in Acapulco — even with a victory in Dubai.
The 34-year-old stated earlier than Monday’s recreation that he can be “the primary one to congratulate” Medvedev if the Russian was once to take his position as international No. 1.
