Novak Djokovic issues apology to his fans after arriving in China
Novak Djokovic has apologised to his fans in China for missing their welcome having been escorted out of the airport privately.
The Serbian has arrived in China to compete at the 2024 Shanghai Masters, which will be his first tournament in the country since 2019. The 24-time Grand Slam winner was a quarter-finalist in Shanghai in 2019, losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas.
Djokovic has achieved huge success in China at both the Shanghai Masters and the China Open in Beijing, while he also won his maiden ATP Finals title in Shanghai in 2008.
The 37-year-old Serbian has won a record four titles in Shanghai since the Masters 1000 event was introduced in 2009 and he has secured a record six trophies at the China Open — an ATP 500 tournament.
Shanghai will be Djokovic’s first tournament since the US Open, where he suffered a shock third round loss to Alexei Popyrin last month.
Djokovic dismantled world No 773 Ioannis Xilas of Greece 6-0, 6-1 in a Davis Cup match earlier this month in his only outing since the US Open.
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In a video shared by Serbian outlet Sportal after Djokovic’s arrival in China, the tennis icon sent a message to his fans to explain why he had not met them at the airport.
“I am in China after five years and I missed you guys. I’m so so sorry, so so sorry that we couldn’t meet yesterday at the airport,” Djokovic said. “I was really sad when I saw — I didn’t know you were there.
Chinese dreams in @Lacoste greens. pic.twitter.com/etwWY2bdKK
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) September 30, 2024
“They took me on some other exit and I really hope that I can see a lot of you, possibly in Beijing the next days, or in Shanghai when I get there.
“I was very excited to come to China, mostly because of all of you, the people that have been following me for so many years and giving me incredible love and support. I love you, I love you guys.”
Djokovic is the No 4 seed at the Shanghai Masters and he will face either Alex Michelsen or Yunchaokete Bu in his opening match, before a potential third round meeting with Flavio Cobolli.
The ATP Masters 1000 tournament will get underway on October 2.
