The 20-time Grand Slam champion defeated Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 in the opening round of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships on Monday in his first match since December. He will face Khachanov, who downed Alex De Minaur in three sets yesterday in the second round of the ATP 500 tournament today.
The Serb, who missed the Australian Open last month due to his deportation from the country, holds a 5-1 head-to-head lead against Khachanov. The 34-year-old won the pair’s most recent meeting in straight sets in the last 16 of the 2020 French Open.
Djokovic revealed to the BBC last week that he would rather miss out on Major titles than compromise his principles by unwillingly taking the COVID-19 vaccine to compete.
Speaking at a press conference after his first round win in Dubai, Khachanov expressed his respect for the World No. 1 for standing by his choice.
The World No. 26 went on to suggest, however, that the lack of match play could be detrimental to the five-time Dubai champion’s game.
Novak Djokovic likely to miss Indian Wells and Miami Open Masters 1000 events
Novak Djokovic is unlikely to play in the upcoming Masters 1000 events in Indian Wells and Miami. The Serb revealed earlier this week that he is currently unable to enter the United States, where the tournaments are held, due to being unvaccinated against Covid-19.
The 34-year-old is a five-time champion in Indian Wells, which will run from 10-20 March. He has also won the Miami Open, which is set to be played from March 23 to April 3, six times.
Djokovic, who has claimed a record 37 Masters 1000 crowns, last won Indian Wells and Miami in 2016, when he completed a fourth ‘Sunshine Double’.
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