Novak, a record six–time AO titlist, is set to play in his first tour event after Wimbledon last summer. The 30-year-old Serbian star is no.14 seed and will open campaign against world no.63 Donald Young (USA). It will be their third career meeting (2-0 H2H).

"I'm smilling, inside and outside. I just love this sport so much," the 12-time Grand Slam champion said. “I was waiting for this moment for six months to get out on the court and play a match. I got a great opponent today, the No. 5 in the world, so it was a fantastic test for me to see where I am. So glad to be back and so nice to start in a country and a city where I have the greatest memories.”

The best Serbian tennis player will not defend his Qatar ExxonMobil Open title. Novak has pulled out of January's Australian Open warm-up event in Doha, as the situation with his elbow has not changed for better since yesterday when he was forced to withdraw from Abu Dhabi exhibition.

Novak has withdrawn from the Mubadala WTC exhibition event due to pain in his right elbow. The Serbian star was scheduled to return to tennis on Friday, December 29, after being out of the game for nearly six months.

Tomas Berdych is into the last four at The Championships after Novak retired with an elbow injury early in the second set.

Three-time former champion beat Adrian Mannarino 6-2, 7-6 (5), 6-4 to move into his ninth Wimbledon quarter-final.

Three-time former champion booked his place in the Wimbledon last 16 with a comprehensive 6-4, 6-1, 7-6 victory over Ernests Gulbis.

The second seed clinched a one-way win on No.1 Court over Adam Pavlasek 6-2, 6-2, 6-1. He next faces Ernests Gulbis of Latvia.

Novak is through to the second round of Wimbledon after Martin Klizan pulled out with a calf injury, trailing 3-6, 0-2, 0/30.

The victory over Gael Monfils in the Aegon International final gives Nole his fourth grass-court crown and first outside Wimbledon.