Novak Djokovic is back on Chinese soil.
It is a treat not only for the local adoring fans, but also for the four-time Rolex Shanghai Masters champion Djokovic.
“I wanted to play in China… I said, ‘Okay, I need to play the tournament in Shanghai, it’s the biggest event in China and one of the great 1000 events we have on Tour’. I missed being in China,” Djokovic told ATP Media.
“It’s been a while, five years. A lot has happened in the meantime in those five years for me and my career, so I was looking forward to coming and experiencing the love and energy and support that I’ve been getting from Chinese fans all these years.”
[ATP APP]Making his 10th Shanghai appearance, the 37-year-old has long felt warm support from Chinese fans stretched across the globe. Now Djokovic is competing in their backyard for the first time since 2019.
“I met some of them on the Tour the last couple of years and they were asking me in a way, ‘You need to come back to China and play!’ So I’m happy that I’m here, I really am,” Djokovic said. “It’s one of the most spectacular events. The stadium is just incredible, one of the nicest ones we have on the Tour in our sport.”
Djokovic owns the most wins (34) and titles (2012-13, 2015, 2018) in Shanghai tournament history. As is the case almost any time Djokovic steps on court, the World No. 4 in the PIF ATP Rankings is chasing a milestone this week.
The fourth seed will attempt to become the third man in the Open Era to capture 100 tour-level titles and break his tie with Roger Federer for most titles on hard courts (71).
Boasting a 34-5 tournament record, Djokovic will open his title quest against home favourite Buyunchaokete or #NextGenATP Alex Michelsen.
“I’ve had plenty of success here and in Beijing, won a lot of titles,” said Djokovic. “Hopefully that previous experience and the memories that I have can help me do well this year as well.”
Before arriving in Shanghai, Djokovic spent time in Beijing and at the Great Wall of China. Lacoste hosted a special event at the Ju Yong Guan pass, where a tennis court was set up and Djokovic enjoyed hitting some balls with Chinese actor Wang Yibo.
Djokovic also visited the Summer Palace and sported a bright green tracksuit while strolling the streets of China’s capital city.
Chinese dreams in @Lacoste greens. pic.twitter.com/etwWY2bdKK
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) September 30, 2024“It brought back the 90s. I’m a kid of the 90s and I remember those days,” Djokovic said with a laugh. “The music and how everybody, like the music artists were dressing up. The tracksuit was a big deal. The colour was really out there. I was walking on the street and people were like, ‘Woah! What’s going on? This is a little bit too much for our eyes!’ We had fun.”
It may have brought flashbacks to the past, but perhaps it was also a glimpse of what fans will see more of from Djokovic moving forward. The Beglrade native has been receiving fashion advice from his wife and some friends, who work in fashion.
“I’m enjoying the new style to be honest. I’m starting to expand on what I can wear and what I wasn’t wearing for a long time — I’m starting to like it a little bit more. I pay more attention to it,” Djokovic said. “I wasn’t really caring as much for fashion in the past off the court. I was more kind of conversative, jeans or chinos and a polo, that was kind of my vibe for a long time, but now I’m stepping out of the box a little bit and exploring the fashion world.”
Djokovic will aim to step in the winner’s circle for the second time this year. The Serbian has tallied a 32-8 season record with his best result coming at the Paris Olympics, where he captured the gold medal.
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