feature-image

Reuters

feature-image

Reuters

Novak Djokovic hasn’t had an ideal start to the 2022 season. The 34-year-old is yet to play a match this season. His arrival in Australia in the hope of defending his Australian Open crown was marred with controversy.

Watch What’s Trending Now!

Chiefly, the Serb’s visa was canceled, and he was subsequently detained by the airport authorities for failing to provide sufficient evidence for his vaccine exemption.

ADVERTISEMENT

article-image

Reuters

Moreover, various celebrities across the globe have had their opinions on this saga. Some have spoken in favor of Djokovic, while others have criticized his handling of the episode. Further, his fans had taken to the streets to express their voice on this matter. These events aside, the tennis fraternity is eager to see World Number 1 back in action.

DIVE DEEPER: WATCH: Ball Girl Grabs Herself a Souvenir as Denis Shapovalov Smashes His Racquet After Losing to Rafael Nadal

ADVERTISEMENT

When will we see Novak Djokovic back on the tennis courts?

The Serbian star will mark his return at the Dubai Duty-Free Tennis Championships, which is an ATP 500 tournament. The event is scheduled to take place from February 21, 2022, to February 26, 2022, in Dubai, UAE.

The 20-time Grand Slam champion will enter the tournament as the top seed. He will face stiff competition from the Russian Andrey Rublev, who will be the second seed. The duo will be followed by Felix Auger-Aliassime and Jannik Sinner, who is the 3rd and the 4th seed, respectively.

article-image

Reuters

That week will see all the top 10 players in the world battle it out, with tournaments in Acapulco, Mexico, and Santiago, Chile. The former is an ATP 500 event while the latter is an ATP 250 event. The tournament in Acapulco will see the likes of Daniil Medvedev, Alexander Zverev, Stefanos Tsitsipas, and Rafael Nadal in action. The tournament in Santiago will see Casper Ruud, Dominic Thiem, and others battle it out.

Further, with the Serbian star short on match practice, can he make a winning return? Do let us know your views in the comments below.

WATCH THIS STORY: Nick Kyrgios Slams Rafael Nadal and Other Tennis Stars For Not Standing Up For Novak Djokovic

ADVERTISEMENT

Share this with a friend:

Link Copied!

ADVERTISEMENT

Written by

author-image

Vatsal Shah

3,705 Articles

Vatsal Shah is a tennis journalist at EssentiallySports, covering ATP and WTA storylines from the ES Trends Desk since 2023. He delivers breaking insights on major tournaments and player arcs, decoding tactical shifts and viral moments into accessible takeaways for fans worldwide. His coverage of Taylor Townsend’s Dubai title win stood out for capturing both the emotional significance of her victory and the context of her comeback. Drawing on his background as a recreational player, Vatsal adds a courtside perspective to his reporting, bringing depth and authenticity to Grand Slam coverage for the ES News Center. By combining sharp observation with a clear, engaging writing style, he ensures that key tennis moments are not only reported but truly understood. Fluent in English, French, and German, as well as three Indian languages, Gujarati, Hindi, and Marathi, Vatsal connects with a diverse global readership. With his mix of linguistic reach, analytical insight, and passion for the sport, he is carving a niche as a fresh, incisive voice in tennis journalism.

Know more

ADVERTISEMENT