The Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships’ semi-final loss to Daniil Medvedev halted world number one Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten start to 2023.
Prior to winning the Australian Open and claiming a record-tying 22nd Grand Slam championship, Djokovic won the Adelaide International tournament to start the year. The Serbian entered his match against Medvedev in 2023 with a 15-0 record.
In a match when the players were putting their early-season winning streaks on the line, Medvedev, who had won his previous 12 matches, struck first by breaking a shaky Djokovic twice and finished off the opening set with a devastating forehand.
After falling behind 2-5 in the first set, Djokovic, who was competing in his first competition since winning in Melbourne, appeared to be the superior player, but he lost his service once more early in the second set after hitting a long return.
Then, in one hour and 55 minutes, Medvedev served out a 6-4 6-4 victories, his 13th straight victory in straight sets and his fifth over Djokovic in as many encounters.
Djokovic is a US Tennis Association hope to play in the US Open.
Djokovic returned to Melbourne earlier this year for the Australian Open, but due to his Covid-19 immunisation status, he may miss Indian Wells and the Miami Open as well.
Nonetheless, the USTA and the US Open are optimistic that he will play after the world No. 1 requested special entry permission to enter the country.
Djokovic, one of the most well-known players who are not immune to Covid, expressed optimism for a favourable conclusion last week, shortly after submitting an application to visit the US and compete in ATP Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami this month.
Novak Djokovic is one the greatest champions our sport has ever seen. The USTA and US Open are hopeful that Novak is successful in his petition to enter the country, and that the fans will be able to see him back in action at Indian Wells and Miami.
— US Open Tennis (@usopen) March 3, 2023
On Friday, the US Open Twitter account said that Novak Djokovic was one of the best champions that the sport has ever seen.
“The USTA and US Open expressed their hope that Novak would be granted entry into the country and that tennis fans would be able to watch him compete again in Indian Wells and Miami” it added.
Djokovic might be forced to sit out for a second year since the US is not likely to relax its vaccination requirements for foreign air travellers until after the Miami Open and Indian Wells main draws, which start on March 9 and March 16, respectively.
The Joe Biden administration announced in January that emergency declarations would be lifted on May 11; nevertheless, Djokovic, who was listed as entering Indian Wells, claimed to have submitted the necessary paperwork for special clearance.
Director of the Indian Wells tournament Tommy Haas stated in January that it would be “disgraceful” for Djokovic to be denied entry this year after the Serbian also withdrew from the U.S. Open.
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