Djokovic's return begins with a trembling victory

The world number one needed almost 2:30 hours to defeat 22-year-old Czech Tomas Machac 6:3, 3:6, 7:6. It was only the 130nd match on the ATP tour for the world number 22. Djokovic, who is undefeated this season, will face Dutchman Tallon Griekspoor, who defeated Frenchman Constant Lestienne, in the second round.

Djokovic, who has held the sole all-time record of 378 weeks at the top of the world rankings since Monday, also wants to win his third tournament of the season in Dubai - after successes in Adelaide and at the first Grand Slam event of the year in Melbourne. Against the qualifier Machac, things initially went according to plan for the 22-time Grand Slam champion with a 6:3, after which the underdog had enough of a break to prevail with the same result. The decisive round was unbeatable in terms of tension, Machac saved himself after the rebreak to 3:4 in the tiebreak, where he was clearly defeated.

“He gave me big problems,” said five-time Dubai champion Djokovic. The 35-year-old himself did not play much tennis before the tournament due to injury problems. Meanwhile, the Russian Daniil Medvedev showed no weakness in his 6:4, 6:2 win against the Italian Matteo Arnaldi. But his compatriot Karen Khachanov was eliminated with a 5:7, 2:6 against the Dutchman Botic van de Zandschulp.

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Djokovic's return begins with a trembling victory

Novak Djokovic narrowly avoided a surprising opening defeat at the ATP500 tennis tournament in Dubai.

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