Djokovic returns: 6 things to look out for at the men’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships

DUBAI: The 30th edition of the men’s Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships kicks off on Monday with all eyes firmly fixed on top seed Novak Djokovic.

Here are some of the main storylines to look out for this week.

Djokovic set for season debut

World No.1 Novak Djokovic will commence his 2022 season in Dubai after missing the action Down Under due to the cancellation of his visa and eventual deportation from Australia last month.

The Serb told the BBC in an interview earlier this week he has not been vaccinated against COVID-19 and is willing to forgo participation in future tournaments if there is a vaccine mandate at such events.

He will face no such issues in Dubai, however, given the UAE is open to unvaccinated visitors.

Djokovic will be competing for the first time since the Davis Cup Finals last December, and he begins his quest for a sixth Dubai title against Italian wildcard Lorenzo Musetti.

Should he move past the 57th-ranked teenager, Djokovic would face the winner of the clash between Karen Khachanov and Alex de Minaur before a potential quarterfinal against 2018 champion and No.8 seed Roberto Bautista Agut.

Felix Auger-Aliassime and Denis Shapovalov are possible semifinal opponents for Djokovic, with the likes of defending champion Aslan Karatsev, Andrey Rublev, Jannik Sinner and wildcard former Wimbledon winner Andy Murray all landing on the opposite side of the draw.

No.1 ranking on the line

Besides being dealt a tricky path in his first tournament of the season, Djokovic also has his No.1 ranking to think about.

Russian Daniil Medvedev will dethrone Djokovic at the top of the rankings on Feb. 28 if he clinches the title in Acapulco at the Mexican Open next week.

Djokovic begins his record 361st