Alejandro Davidovich Fokina prevailed in a two hour, 55-minute battle on Tuesday, recording a 6-3, 6-7 (5), 6-1 victory to reach the third round. Novak is heading to Belgrade, where the Serbia Open, an ATP 250 clay-court event, will be held next week.

Novak is a top seed and has a first-round BYE. He will open his 2022 clay-court season campaign against either Alejandro Davidovich Fokina (ESP, ATP #45, H2H 2-0) or Marcos Giron (USA, ATP #52).

The top seed at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships failed to reach semi-finals of the ATP 500 event on Thursday. Novak suffered a 4-6, 6-7 (4) loss to world no.123 Jiri Vesely (CZE, Q). As a result, the Serbian star will fall to no.2 in the ATP Rankings on Monday for the first time since February 2020. Djokovic has spent a record 361 weeks at the summit of men's professional tennis.

Novak withstood the challenge of world no.26 Karen Khachanov to prevail 6-3, 7-6 (2) in their second round encounter at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The top seed goes on to play qualifier Jiri Vesely next (CZE, ATP #123).

In his first match of the 2022 season, a convincing display from Nole. He beat Italian Lorenzo Musetti 6-3, 6-3 in 74 minutes to reach the 2nd round at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships. The top seed faces Karen Khachanov (RUS) next.

Nole will be bidding for a sixth crown at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships (2009-11, 2013, 2020). The tournament celebrates its 30th anniversary. The top seed faces world no.57, Italian Lorenzo Musetti (WC, 1-0 H2H), in what will be his first match of the season.

Novak completed one of the greatest seasons on the ATP Tour, winning three Grand Slam trophies and clinching a historic seventh year-end no.1 finish. Djokovic also captured his 20th career Grand Slam title, tying Roger Federer’s and Rafael Nadal’s all-time record.

Novak did double duty in the Davis Cup semis on Friday, but it was not enough to give a victory to the 2010 champions Serbia. Gojo won the opening singles rubber against Lajovic 4-6, 6-3, 6-2. Nole leveled the tie beating Marin Cilic 6-4, 6-2, but in the deciding doubles, the world no.1 pair Mektic/Pavic defeated Djokovic and Krajinovic 7-5, 6-1.

Serbia is through to the Davis Cup semis following a comeback 2-1 win over Kazakhstan. Kukushkin clinched the opening point beating Kecmanovic 7-6, 4-6, 7-6. Novak then recorded a 6-3, 6-4 victory over Alexander Bublik to level the tie. In the deciding doubles match, Nole and Cacic teamed up to defeat Golubev and Nedovyesov 6-2, 2-6, 6-3. Serbia will face Croatia at the Madrid Arena on Friday (16:00 CET).

Serbia is through to the quarter-finals of the Davis Cup as one of the two best runners-up. The 2010 champions will meet Kazakhstan on Wednesday, December 1.