NOV BACK
Novak Djokovic wins first tennis match since being kicked out of Australia with straight-sets Dubai victory
NOVAK DJOKOVIC returned to the court for the first time since being booted out of Australia with victory in Dubai.
The world No 1 beat wild card Lorenzo Musetti in the Middle East on Monday night.
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It was his first match of the year and first since being refused entry into Australia last month.
The 20-time Grand Slam winner insists that he is not an antivaxxer - but believes in the individual's right to choose.
Djokovic has refused Covid vaccines and travelled Down Under for the first grand slam of the year on a 'medical exemption'.
The tennis star was detained and then turned round at the Australian border when he tried to enter the country to play in the Australian Open last year.
After an intense 11 days which saw two visas be cancelled, two court challenges as well as overnight stays in an immigration detention centre, Djokovic was deported.
And the world No 1 recently claimed he's willing to miss more grand slams rather than get jabbed.
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Djokovic, 34, told the BBC's Amol Rajan that losing out on future sports victories is "the price I'm willing to pay".
He said: "The principles of decision making on my body are more important than any title."
The Serbian national made it clear that he would rather miss out on competitions like Wimbledon and the French Open over his stance.
Djokovic earned £1.7million for lifting the Wimbledon title last year - the total prize pot was £35m - and £1.2m for his French Open glory.
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He took home £1.5m after winning the Australian Open in 2021, although his great rival Rafa Nadal pocketed £2.3m last month Down Under - an extra 53 per cent due to the financial recovery from the pandemic.
Djokovic's total career earnings stand at more than £114m as he stands on 86 titles and 11 wins shy of 1,000 singles victories over 19 years.
However, the seven-time year-end world No1 added that he hoped strict rules on vaccines for future tournaments could change, as he would like to "play for many more years".
He also explained that he had received vaccines as a child, adding: "But I've always supported the freedom to choose what you put in your body."
A string of Covid vaccine studies have shown how effective the jab is to slow the spread of the deadly virus.
It's vital to get your life-saving jabs and be fully protected - after the latest research from Pfizer found three doses "neutralises" the mutant variant.
And just one Covid jab offers two-thirds protection against the virus.
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