"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.”

After pulling out from Abu Dhabi exho and ATP Doha event due to pain in his right elbow, Novak is travelling to Australia where he will take part in two exhibition tournaments. After the two events, the decision will be made about his participation at the first Grand Slam of the season, the Australian Open (15-28 January, 2018), where Nole has been crowned champion six times.

Novak has withdrawn from the Mubadala WTC exhibition event due to pain in his right elbow.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.

Nole will return to action at the 10th staging of the Mubadala World Tennis Championship from December 28-30. Djokovic completes the star-studded field alongside Rafael Nadal, Dominic Thiem, Stan Wawrinka, Pablo Carreno Busta and Milos Raonic.

Nole returned to the traditional Wimbledon warm-up event, The Boodles tennis exhibition in Stoke park.

World no.1 beat Gasquet 6-4, 6-7 (8), 10-8 on Thursday, lost to A.Zverev 4-6, 3-6 on Friday, at The Boodles – the traditional Wimbledon warm-up event.

Novak faced Wimbledon junior champion Noah Rubin on Thursday night in a charity exhibition at Sportime Stadium on Randalls Island at the John McEnroe Tennis Project Benefit.

Novak took part in the 10th Annual Desert Smash Pro-Celebrity Tennis exhibition at La Quinta Resort & Club.

Novak and Murray will play an exhibition match at New York’s Madison Square Garden to celebrate World Tennis Day (Tuesday 02.30h CET).

Novak put together some fantastic tennis to beat Juan Monaco 7-5, 6-1 at the AAMI Kooyong Classic in Melbourne.