Novak Djokovic is still undergoing self isolation at his home in Malaga, Spain. (Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic said that Dubai felt like a second home ahead of the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championship.
Djokovic is making a return into the ATP tournament after since last playing in 2016. This is one of the Serb’s happy hunting ground having found success in the same venue early in his career.
The Serb is the second top winner in the tournament with 4 titles behind Roger Federer, who has eight to his name.
“You know I have been coming to Dubai for many years and it feels like in a way like second home really because I have played this tournament many times before and fortunate to win it as well,” a happy Djokovic said.
“But I have also been traditionally coming with my family in December in the off-season cause of the great weather and facilities, kind of using this as a great start, kick-off to the start of the season.”
Djokovic later added that Dubai was close to him not just because of his stints in the earlier tournaments but also since it was a constant destination for him and his family.
He was of the opinion that Dubai’s good weather and facilities provided him and his team with a good training base ahead of the upcoming seasons when compared to the cold and harsh conditions at his place.
Meanwhile, the UAE government recently decided to issue resident gold card visa to 17-time Grand Slam winner Djokovic.
The ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, is a big fan of sports and has led to the government providing resident gold card visas to the world’s top sporting talents.
Djokovic joins the likes of sporting personalities such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Luis Figo, Didier Drogba, and Eric Abidal.
On being the recipient of such an honour, Djokovic said,
“Yes I heard about that. I am not sure what it means but I am honoured and I am grateful.”
The gold visa is granted to talented professionals from various fields, who have an influence on society. It grants a residence of 5 or 10 years to holders, while the general residence visa is only valid two years.
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