Novak Djokovic vs Lorenzo Musetti LIVE: Tennis score in Dubai plus Andy Murray result

LIVE – Updated at 18:19

Novak Djokovic is back after the Covid vaccine exemption saga that led to his deportation ahead of the 2022 Australian Open. The Serbian tennis star could only watch on as Rafael Nadal edged Daniil Medvedev in a five-set thriller to take the lead over Djokovic and Roger Federer in the race to finish their careers with the most men’s Grand Slams of all time.

Djokovic maintains he is at “peak” performance ahead of his return to tour, the No 1 player in male tennis is excited to play again at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis championship: “It wasn’t really difficult for me to pick up a racket and go out and practice the sport and just play. I’m as well prepared as I possibly can be.”

Djokovic’s presence has attracted strange decisions from the tournament organisers, with most photographers and videographers blocked from the 34-year-old’s news conference without explanation, while security guards flanked Djokovic at practice and questioning reporters who tried to grab a glimpse of him serving and swinging on the court, despite this not applying to any other players.

Follow live updates from Djokovic vs Musetti - after Andy Murray outlasted Chris O’Connell in three sets

Novak Djokovic is back on a tennis court ahead of a competitive match. The world No 1 is given a welcoming reception from the crowd in Dubai as he follows Lorenzo Musetti out onto the court, and there are chants of ‘Novak, Novak’ during the coin toss.

There are plenty of Serbian flags in the stands, too.

Novak Djokovic was expected to be on court at around 4:30pm this afternoon but Andy Murray has pushed the schedule back.

He will be back on court against Lorenzo Musetti next.

Murray: “I enjoyed the result. What went on in the middle was