Novak Djokovic LIVE: Tennis rating updates from Dubai as we speak

First rate stuff from Murray up to now, settling into his forehand to open the angles and pressure a few errors from O’Connell.

The primary serve is working properly, too, with O’Connell but to win some extent in opposition to it.

A gap maintain of serve for Murray, sealed as a backhand slice from O’Connell drifts lengthy of the baseline.

Murray landed a gap ace and was robust behind his first serve, whereas O’Connell’s greatest weapon is his forehand.

Andy Murray has Daniel Vallverdu, the previous coach of Stan Wawrinka, in his nook this week.

Vallverdu was a part of Murray’s crew between 2010 and 2014 and is again serving to the Scot as he continues his search a subsequent everlasting coach.

Murray gained the toss and has elected to serve first in opposition to O’Connell.

It’s been 5 years since Andy Murray gained the title on the Dubai Responsibility Free championships, defeating Fernando Verdasco within the closing.

The 34-year-old is making his approach out onto the court docket now forward of his first profession assembly with O’Connell.

Murray was handed a wildcard within the Dubai fundamental draw and the world No 89 has acquired a beneficial opening match in opposition to the Australian qualifier Chris O’Connell.

O’Connell, the world No 158, reached the third spherical of the Australian Open on residence soil final month, defeating the No 13 seed Diego Schwartzman alongside the way in which.

Murray could be anticipated to progress by means of to the second spherical, the place a troublesome last-16 tie in opposition to Jannik Sinner might await.

Murray vs O’Connell will get underway shortly in Dubai.

Rublev faces a troublesome opening spherical opponent, although, after being drawn in opposition to British No 1 and world No 28 Dan Evans.

Evans suffered a last-16 exit in Qatar final week, which was on the similar stage that Andy Murray had his straight-sets defeat to Bautista Agut.

The 6-0, 6-1 demolition was Murray’s heaviest on the ATP Tour since 2014 and it quite took the shine off his opening victory over Taro Daniel.

Djokovic is a five-time champion in Dubai – solely Roger Federer has gained the match extra – however the Serbian has been handed a troublesome draw on the Responsibility Free Tennis championship.

Karen Khachanov awaits within the second spherical if he can get previous the proficient younger Italian Lorenzo Musetti this afternoon. Wanting additional down the road, a quarter-final assembly with the in-form Roberto Bautista Agut might await him, with the Spaniard successful the title final week in Qatar.

Felix Auger-Aliassime might have been his semi-final opponent however the Canadian has withdrawn from the match with a again damage. Auger-Aliassime was defeated within the closing of the Marseille Open by Andrey Rublev on Sunday, and the Russian is the highest seed within the backside half of the draw.

Novak Djokovic says he shall be pleased for Daniil Medvedev if his future as world No 1 involves an finish this week.

“I do know that he is very shut and it relies upon what I do right here,” Djokovic stated upon arriving in Dubai.

“I am not conscious of all of the completely different eventualities however the one situation I’ve in my head is to win each match that I play right here.”

When knowledgeable of the permutations, Djokovic stated: “It’s in his fingers however he deserves to be No 1.

“Ultimately it’s going to occur and if it occurs this week I’ll be the primary one to congratulate him.”

Novak Djokovic might be knocked off world No 1 this week, with Daniil Medvedev aiming to grow to be the most recent males’s participant to high the tennis singles rankings.

After controversially lacking out on the Australian Open in January, Djokovic is about to return to the court docket on the Dubai Responsibility Free Championship this afternoon.

The Serbian doesn’t require to be vaccinated to compete in Dubai however has revealed that he’s ready to overlook each the French Open and Wimbledon over his stance.

Djokovic might additionally miss ATP 1000 tournaments at Indian Wells, California and Miami, Florida subsequent month, which might imply a big shift within the males’s world rankings.

The highest spot is up for grabs this month, nevertheless, and males’s tennis can have a brand new No 1 for the primary time in two years if Medvedev betters Djokovic’s end in Dubai.

Medvedev, who defeated Djokovic on the US Open closing final September earlier than reaching the Australian Open closing final month, is competing at a ATP 500 occasion in Acapulco, Mexico.

Medvedev will grow to be world No 1 if he wins the match, or if Djokovic fails to higher his consequence. Djokovic, who’s joined by Felix Auger-Aliassime, Andrey Rublev and Jannik Sinner on the match in Dubai, holds the file for essentially the most weeks spent at No 1.

Novak Djokovic’s newest feedback on whether or not he would obtain the Covid-19 vaccine have been mocked – by funds airline Ryanair.