World number one Novak Djokovic has confirmed he will return to the court at this month's Miami Open having recuperated from a muscle tear during the first Grand Slam of the season, while two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova clinched the Qatar Open title at Doha on Saturday.

The 18-time Grand Slam champion suffered the injury during a third round match at Melbourne Park but that did not stop him from clinching a record-extending ninth Australian Open title in his favorite hard courts. 

Last Monday, the 33-year-old Serbian equaled Roger Federer's all-time record for most weeks as the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) world number one and is set to surpass that on the coming Monday, by when he will be holding the top spot for the 311th week.

According to a partial schedule posted on his website, Djokovic is entered for the ATP Masters 1000 event on the hard courts in Miami from March 22 to April 4. 

It is the first of three events he will play in before heading to Europe for the clay-court swing ahead of the French Open in end May.

Meanwhile, two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova demolished Garbine Muguruza 6-2, 6-1 to win the second time at the Qatar Total Open. 

Three years ago, Kvitova saw off the same opponent two hours and 16 minutes to win the same event whereas on Saturday, she struck 11 winners to 18 unforced errors for a victory that clocked in at a more comfortable time of 66 minutes.

It was Kvitova's 28th career title from 38 finals played.

"It's been a great run," said Kvitova after her victory.

"I'm sorry for the second time, I hope we can meet somewhere else," she added, nodding towards her vanquished rival.

"Today I think Petra played very well from the baseline, and it was hard to try to make her move, or try to do much," said also two-time major champion Muguruza, who has lost five times in a row to Kvitova. 

"It was very windy, as well. I mean, it really wasn't my day, I guess."

Having not won a tournament since Stuttgart 2019 and losing three of her past four finals – including in Doha last year to Aryna Sabalenka, Saturday's victory finally ended the final drought for the 30-year-old Kvitova who improved her career record in finals to 28-10.

(With input from agencies)

(Cover image: Novak Djokovic of Serbia hits a backhand against Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the men's singles final at the 2021 Australian Open at Melbourne Park in Melbourne, Australia, February 21, 2021. /CFP)