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

The Serbian was playing for the first time since being deported from Australia ahead of the 2022 Australian Open

(AFP via Getty Images)

Novak Djokovic made a winning return to tennis in his first match since being deported from Australia as the men’s world No 1 defeated Lorenzo Musetti in straight sets at the Dubai Duty Free Championships.

Djokovic, who was cheered on by a supportive crowd in Dubai, made light work of the 19-year-old Musetti to seal a 6-3 6-3 win in what was his first match in three months following the controversy that surrounded his Covid-19 vaccination status at the Australian Open last month.

The Serbian missed the opening grand slam of the year amid a battle in the Australian courts over his exemption for the vaccine that ultimately saw him deported from the country ahead of the tournament on “health and safety” grounds.

Djokovic, who remains unvaccinated, has said he is prepared to miss future grand slams over his stance but was able to enter the tournament in Dubai, a tournament where he is a five-time champion.

The world No 1 was welcomed onto the court and the crowd chanted ‘Novak, Novak!’ upon the 20-time major champion taking the opening break of serve midway through the first set.

Djokovic had not played a competitive match since the Davis Cup finals in early December of last year but it did not take long for the Serbian to get back up to speed as he swiftly saw off the challenge of the highly-rated Musetti.

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

Djokovic vs Musetti

• Novak Djokovic set for first match since being deported from Australia
• World No 1 faces Italian Lorenzo Musetti in last 16 match, following Murray vs O’Connell
• Frustrated Murray loses first set to O’Connell on tie-break
• Murray breaks O’Connell twice to force deciding set
• Murray defeats O’Connell in three-set epic
• Djokovic defeats Musetti 6-3 6-3 to make winning return

[21 February 2022 16:12 · Jamie Braidwood]

Murray vs O’Connell updates ahead of Djokovic return

*Murray 6-6 O’Connell

The errors from both players continue into Murray’s next service game, but the 34-year-old gets the hold as O’Connell nets.

And we race towards the first-set tiebreak as O’Connell comes out aggressive and lands a couple of early winners.

Two further errors from Murray earns the Australian the hold to love - as we move into the tie-break.

[21 February 2022 16:05 · Jamie Braidwood]

Murray vs O’Connell updates ahead of Djokovic return

*Murray 5-5 O’Connell

O’Connell blinks! At 15-30, the Australian gets tight as he sends a forehand into the net to set up two break points for Murray.

Murray sees the first chance slide by as he makes another error on break point, pulling a forehand wide as he looked for the line.

But he does get the break, at last, as O’Connell nets again on the forehand side. Thankfully, for Murray, he didn’t need to keep it in court there.

[21 February 2022 16:00 · Jamie Braidwood]

Murray vs O’Connell updates ahead of Djokovic return

*Murray 4-5 O’Connell

Murray finds himself in a spot of bother at 15-30, as O’Connell goes on the attack with a succession of driving groundstrokes into the corners. Murray’s coverage is good, but he’s unable to get much on the returns, as O’Connell steps in to power the winner past him and set up two break points.

The frustration finally boils over from Murray as he smashes his racket off the court. O’Connell is inches away from the break with a short return, but another forehand miss from Murray hands him to game on the next point.

Murray went looking for the winner with a flying forehand out wide but it drifted a foot wide. Murray smashes his racket again and O’Connell is one hold away from the opening set.

[21 February 2022 15:55 · Jamie Braidwood]

Murray vs O’Connell updates ahead of Djokovic return

*Murray 4-4 O’Connell

Murray moves on with a hold to love following the frustration of the previous game, keeping the pressure firmly on the O’Connell serve.

The Australian runs around a forehand to get back to 30-30, before Murray smashes away the ball following his latest unforced error at a crucial moment.

And there’s another, this time into the net as O’Connell moves on with another hold.

[21 February 2022 15:47 · Jamie Braidwood]

Murray vs O’Connell updates ahead of Djokovic return

*Murray 3-3 O’Connell

O’Connell sends Murray chasing around the court as he swiftly moves to 40-15. But a drop shot into the net is followed by Murray’s shot of the match so far, a forehand down the line that lands perfectly in the corner, to set up deuce.

Under pressure, O’Connell nets on a forehand - but is let off the hook as Murray pushes a presentable backhand on a O’Connell second serve wide.

The errors continue as O’Connell fires wide with Murray on the run, before Murray misses again, this time on the forehand side.

A beautiful lob from Murray sets up a third break point but the frustration continues as Murray makes another unforced error.

And O’Connell holds on after Murray challenges a shot that clipped the line. He had his chances there but couldn’t take them.

[21 February 2022 15:35 · Jamie Braidwood]

Murray vs O’Connell updates ahead of Djokovic return

Murray 3-2 O’Connell*

O’Connell sends Murray running with a whipped forehand into the corner, then putting away the smash, before he seals his hold with a serve out wide that Murray can’t return on the stretch.

A double fault from Murray puts him in a spot of trouble at 0-30, but O’Connell’s return is loose and drifts wide, before his one-handed backhand misfires and gets Murray back level.

But Murray soon finds himself under pressure again, and it’s all of his own making as two consecutive backhands find the net to set up break point. Murray finds an ace out wide, before O’Connell blinks first on the longest rally of the match as he sends a backhand long.

A difficult game, but he eventually earns the hold as O’Connell can’t return a serve down the middle.

[21 February 2022 15:25 · Jamie Braidwood]

Murray vs O’Connell updates ahead of Djokovic return

Murray 2-1 O’Connell*

Decent stuff from Murray so far, settling into his forehand to open the angles and force a couple of errors from O’Connell.

The first serve is working nicely, too, with O’Connell yet to win a point against it.

[21 February 2022 15:19 · Jamie Braidwood]

Murray vs O’Connell updates ahead of Djokovic return

An opening hold of serve for Murray, sealed as a backhand slice from O’Connell drifts long of the baseline.

Murray landed an opening ace and was strong behind his first serve, while O’Connell’s biggest weapon is his forehand.

[21 February 2022 15:14 · Jamie Braidwood]

Murray vs O’Connell updates ahead of Djokovic return

Andy Murray has Daniel Vallverdu, the former coach of Stan Wawrinka, in his corner this week.

Vallverdu used to be part of Murray’s team between 2010 and 2014 and is back helping the Scot as he continues his search a next permanent coach.

Murray won the toss and has elected to serve first against O’Connell.

[21 February 2022 15:04 · Jamie Braidwood]

Murray vs O’Connell updates ahead of Djokovic return

It’s been five years since Andy Murray won the title at the Dubai Duty Free championships, defeating Fernando Verdasco in the final.

The 34-year-old is making his way out onto the court now ahead of his first career meeting with O’Connell.

(Getty Images)