Novak Djokovic to start season against Lorenzo Musetti at Dubai Tennis Championships

World No 1 Novak Djokovic will start his 2022 season against Lorenzo Musetti in the first round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships after the draw for the tournament was made on Saturday.

Djokovic, 32, has yet to play this year after his plans to defend his Australian Open title were denied by the Australian government, which overturned an earlier court ruling and deported him over his vaccination status against Covid-19.

The Serb instead gets his season underway in Dubai, where he has enjoyed plenty of success over the years, winning the title five times including most recently in 2020.

Djokovic arrived in Dubai ahead of the tournament and attended Expo 2020 Dubai on Thursday, when he spoke at the Serbia pavilion to promote the work of the Novak Djokovic Foundation.

This year will be the 30th anniversary for the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships.

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