ATP Shanghai: Retirement Nowhere in Sight for Novak Djokovic as His Love for China Sparks Recent Hopes for the Tennis Neighborhood

Novak Djokovic has had fairly a blended season! After taking a while off and exploring China, he’s again on the court docket on the Shanghai Masters. Leaving followers questioning if this may very well be certainly one of his final appearances. Nevertheless, his return additionally brings in some pleasure! Particularly since he’s trying to reclaim his spot in a match the place he’s at all times performed properly. Will he put these retirement whispers to relaxation and preserve chasing greatness?

Throughout his match on the Shanghai Masters on October 8, Novak Djokovic showcased his dominant expertise by crushing Flavio Cobolli with a fast 6-1, 6-2 victory in simply over an hour! In a post-match interview, a reporter requested, “at this stage of your profession you’ve been fairly affordable, and I believe all of us perceive that, putting your priorities on the Slams, and in addition selecting just a few different tournaments….I do know it’s too early to speak about subsequent yr, however how does that or does that make it possibly somewhat extra stronger push so that you can attempt to do extraordinarily properly this week right here?”

Djokovic, who’s making his first look on the Chinese language ATP Masters 1000 since 2019, is at the moment competing in his fifth title at this prestigious match. He has already received 4 titles (2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018) and holds the file for many wins in match historical past with 34 victories. Within the Serb’s phrases,

“Properly, I at all times need to do very properly in China, and I believe my previous outcomes are a testomony to how I really feel in China. I at all times had large success, each Beijing and Shanghai. It’s positively because of the unimaginable love and respect and assist I’m getting from the Chinese language individuals.” He additional referred to as his reference to China “profound” and gave his followers a hope to do his finest and return subsequent yr.

Though Novak can’t give a strong affirmation of his schedule going forward, he stays optimistic in regards to the future, stating, “I don’t know what subsequent yr brings when it comes to my schedule and so forth. I do know that I nonetheless need to preserve enjoying. I’ve to see the place I’m in my life with my physique and every part, however I nonetheless have plans to go forward, you already know, as earlier years, prioritizing the most important occasions, however then I nonetheless wish to make my annual journey to China, no less than for one match, due to the unimaginable power and love I really feel right here.”

Earlier than the Shanghai Masters, Novak Djokovic visited Beijing and the Nice Wall of China. Lacoste organized a particular occasion on the Ju Yong Guan go, the place Djokovic performed tennis with Chinese language actor Wang Yibo. Djokovic additionally explored the Summer season Palace and loved sightseeing in Beijing, carrying a vibrant inexperienced tracksuit. Regardless of his deal with his tennis, Djokovic can be conscious of the challenges confronted by different gamers.

Novak needs higher participant remedy with PTPA

Since 2023, a yr through which solely two tennis gamers had been featured among the many world’s 100 best-paid sportspeople, Djokovic has been vocal about the need for change inside skilled tennis. “All of us positively need to see a change on the base degree as a result of the a hundred and fiftieth participant on the planet struggles,” Djokovic mentioned final yr, when requested in regards to the PTPA’s mission. Having began his skilled tennis profession almost 21 years in the past, he understands firsthand that “Individuals don’t understand how costly this sport is.”

Even Ahmad Nassar, the CEO of the PTPA, criticized the present tennis system as biased towards gamers and suboptimal for followers, media, and business companions. He referred to as for a long-term transformation to deal with these points, emphasizing the necessity for a 10-year plan to information the game in direction of a extra sustainable future.

Beforehand, it was reported that the distinction in earnings between tennis and its different counterpart, golf, is just too vast to be ignored. That is likely one of the the reason why Djokovic or Nassar are able to sort out the issue assertion.

Nonetheless, whereas whispers of retirement could encompass him, Novak Djokovic reveals that he’s nonetheless tremendous captivated with tennis. It will not be solely the followers or the game. Relatively, it’s a mixture of each which makes him need to do higher!