Berliner Boersenzeitung - Fans' welcome 'exceeded expectations', says Djokovic after winning return

EUR -
AED 4.178094
AFN 80.660838
ALL 98.620985
AMD 442.81052
ANG 2.050119
AOA 1037.406639
ARS 1323.548457
AUD 1.782369
AWG 2.047514
AZN 1.936072
BAM 1.953658
BBD 2.295063
BDT 138.107337
BGN 1.953169
BHD 0.428707
BIF 3380.393055
BMD 1.137508
BND 1.490752
BOB 7.854387
BRL 6.46036
BSD 1.136644
BTN 96.94284
BWP 15.560799
BYN 3.719988
BYR 22295.149099
BZD 2.283276
CAD 1.576574
CDF 3272.609072
CHF 0.939342
CLF 0.027909
CLP 1070.974491
CNY 8.289035
CNH 8.293358
COP 4893.842103
CRC 572.966647
CUC 1.137508
CUP 30.143952
CVE 110.144216
CZK 24.975123
DJF 202.41625
DKK 7.465351
DOP 67.455435
DZD 150.530901
EGP 57.967725
ERN 17.062614
ETB 151.48415
FJD 2.567807
FKP 0.858034
GBP 0.854877
GEL 3.117175
GGP 0.858034
GHS 17.221115
GIP 0.858034
GMD 81.330736
GNF 9843.119485
GTQ 8.754323
GYD 237.817119
HKD 8.825364
HNL 29.468426
HRK 7.533257
HTG 148.505843
HUF 407.262067
IDR 19165.353793
ILS 4.147654
IMP 0.858034
INR 97.060794
IQD 1489.05401
IRR 47903.288019
ISK 144.895596
JEP 0.858034
JMD 180.062543
JOD 0.806724
JPY 162.126117
KES 147.091207
KGS 99.324201
KHR 4549.970495
KMF 494.24449
KPW 1023.692616
KRW 1632.653167
KWD 0.348669
KYD 0.947253
KZT 587.420669
LAK 24581.827421
LBP 101848.612626
LKR 340.953113
LRD 227.338701
LSL 21.212452
LTL 3.358764
LVL 0.688067
LYD 6.220179
MAD 10.542746
MDL 19.636294
MGA 5115.345533
MKD 61.465435
MMK 2387.74812
MNT 4030.323332
MOP 9.083459
MRU 45.036217
MUR 51.531147
MVR 17.523332
MWK 1971.021247
MXN 22.283194
MYR 4.974301
MZN 72.800375
NAD 21.212452
NGN 1833.002813
NIO 41.833757
NOK 11.83058
NPR 155.109906
NZD 1.902521
OMR 0.437964
PAB 1.136644
PEN 4.194963
PGK 4.704799
PHP 64.217422
PKR 319.496131
PLN 4.275141
PYG 9097.943198
QAR 4.14352
RON 4.976825
RSD 117.090569
RUB 94.233029
RWF 1623.20572
SAR 4.266897
SBD 9.483381
SCR 16.208892
SDG 683.071875
SEK 10.911303
SGD 1.492228
SHP 0.893902
SLE 25.877833
SLL 23852.947296
SOS 649.581957
SRD 41.917193
STD 23544.110848
SVC 9.946093
SYP 14790.043117
SZL 21.202749
THB 38.038825
TJS 12.07735
TMT 3.992652
TND 3.393279
TOP 2.664159
TRY 43.582478
TTD 7.712542
TWD 36.985836
TZS 3059.895608
UAH 47.394411
UGX 4167.393393
USD 1.137508
UYU 47.677298
UZS 14639.817249
VES 94.767943
VND 29637.760703
VUV 136.272965
WST 3.153487
XAF 655.23271
XAG 0.033986
XAU 0.000341
XCD 3.074171
XDR 0.818078
XOF 655.23271
XPF 119.331742
YER 278.973029
ZAR 21.289302
ZMK 10238.937064
ZMW 31.969661
ZWL 366.276985
  • CMSC

    0.0300

    22.19

    +0.14%

  • RBGPF

    -0.4500

    63

    -0.71%

  • BCC

    -0.1840

    93.146

    -0.2%

  • BTI

    -0.0100

    42.5

    -0.02%

  • GSK

    -0.1000

    36.93

    -0.27%

  • SCS

    -0.0750

    9.675

    -0.78%

  • RIO

    0.7500

    60.95

    +1.23%

  • NGG

    -0.0880

    71.622

    -0.12%

  • CMSD

    0.1200

    22.41

    +0.54%

  • RELX

    -0.0500

    52.65

    -0.09%

  • JRI

    0.1500

    12.49

    +1.2%

  • AZN

    0.0600

    68.57

    +0.09%

  • VOD

    -0.0690

    9.231

    -0.75%

  • RYCEF

    0.3400

    9.84

    +3.46%

  • BP

    0.2050

    28.805

    +0.71%

  • BCE

    0.0800

    22.3

    +0.36%

Fans' welcome 'exceeded expectations', says Djokovic after winning return
Fans' welcome 'exceeded expectations', says Djokovic after winning return

Fans' welcome 'exceeded expectations', says Djokovic after winning return

Novak Djokovic admitted the warm reception he was given by fans in Dubai on Monday exceeded his expectations as he made a successful return to the tour for the first time since his deportation from Australia.

Text size:

The world No.1 kicked off his 2022 campaign with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Italian teenager Lorenzo Musetti, and was greeted by loud cheers from a packed stadium as he commenced his quest for a sixth title in the Emirates in style.

Djokovic was not sure how he would be received in the wake of everything that happened in Australia last month, but stated he "couldn't ask for a better reception" as fans scrambled to take photos with him after the match, chanting 'Nole, Nole', to celebrate his victory and his return to action.

"I think Dubai is a perfect place for me to start a season because of the support and the fans that showed up tonight and really cheered me on the way they did," Djokovic told reporters in an outdoor press conference that was specifically set up for him, away from the main interview room.

"They exceeded my best expectations, so to say, in terms of the atmosphere."

The 34-year-old's hopes of winning a 10th Australian Open, and 21st Grand Slam, last month were shattered when he had his visa cancelled and was deported for not being vaccinated against Covid-19.

In his absence, Rafael Nadal clinched a record-breaking 21st major title, moving ahead of Djokovic and Roger Federer –- who each have 20 –- in the race for Grand Slam supremacy.

"The (Australian Open) final, I was trying not to watch it, but then I had my household watching, basically everyone was watching, my wife and my kids, so I had to follow it," reflected Djokovic.

"But congratulations to Rafa. Incredible performance. Amazing fighter he is.

"I got tons of respect for him. I don't want to take anything away from his victory, me not participating in the tournament regardless. Of course, it wasn't a pleasant feeling for me leaving the country the way I did and watching the tournament from far away."

Djokovic acknowledges that his reputation has taken a hit in recent weeks and has consulted with several PR professionals to get a better understanding of the "different dynamics" related to his situation, which he concedes has escalated beyond sport and has entered several realms, including politics.

"In terms of image, I really don't know. Of course, there were not many positive articles about this whole situation in the last month or so. I think things are maybe shifting a little bit. I'm hoping. But I understand there's still a lot of speculations and people questioning," he said.

Djokovic can play in Dubai as a coronavirus vaccine is not a requirement to enter the United Arab Emirates but he revealed that "as of today", he is unable to enter the United States to compete at the forthcoming Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami.

His meeting with the 19-year-old Musetti was his first competitive match since the Davis Cup Finals in Madrid last December.

It was a rematch of their Roland Garros fourth round from last spring, where Musetti led Djokovic by two-sets-to-love before retiring in the decider.

On Monday, top seed Djokovic needed just 74 minutes to make the last 16 where he will face either Karen Khachanov or Alex de Minaur.

- Murray warns of 'consequences' -

Earlier, former world No.1 Andy Murray battled for nearly three hours against Australian qualifier Christopher O'Connell before advancing to the second round with a 6-7(4/7), 6-3, 7-5 victory.

Murray is now just one win shy of his goal of reaching 700 career match-wins and could check that item off his bucket list if he comes out victorious in his next clash in Dubai against either Italian No.4 seed Jannik Sinner or Spain's Alejandro Davidovich Fokina.

The three-time Grand Slam winner, competing in Dubai for the first time since he won the title in 2017, says he does not agree with Djokovic's stance against the vaccine but believes the tour is better off when the world No.1 is able to compete.

"I think it would be a lot easier for him obviously if he was to get vaccinated," Murray said.

"But I also didn't like seeing him in the situation that he was in Australia as someone that I respect, have known since I was a child.

"There are consequences to the decisions he's made just now. He obviously has to accept that. But I don't think it's great for tennis if our best player is not competing in the major events."

(T.Renner--BBZ)