Novak Djokovic needed a deciding tie-break to beat Tomas Machac at the Dubai Tennis Championships in his first match since winning the Australian Open.

The world number one returned with a 6-3 3-6 7-6 (7-1) win against 22-year-old Czech Machac, ranked 130th.

Earlier, Britain's Dan Evans retired with injury in his first-round match against Croatia's Borna Coric.

The match was level at 2-2 in the first set when the British number two was forced to retire. Evans, 32, was playing with strapping to an ankle, but there has been no confirmation of the injury which forced him out.

He was the only Briton competing in the men's singles after Andy Murray pulled out on Monday.

Daniil Medvedev extended his winning run to 10 matches with a 6-4 6-2 victory over lucky loser Matteo Arnaldi as he chases a third straight title.

Fourth seed Felix Auger-Aliassime battled to a 7-6 (7-4) 3-6 6-3 win against Maxime Cressy but sixth seed Karen Khachanov lost 7-5 6-2 to Botic van de Zandschulp.