Novak Djokovic tested his Chinese language skills and admitted he still needs more practice. The 24-time Grand Slam champion is preparing for the Shanghai Masters, his first tournament since the disappointing early exit at the US Open, where he was eliminated in the third round.
With four titles in Shanghai, Djokovic is the tournament's top winner, surpassing Andy Murray’s three titles. The Serbian will play the tournament for the first time since 2019, and China seems like an ideal place to raise his level, given the great reception he always gets from the Chinese fans.
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Nole is a renowned polyglot, having learned English, German, and Italian as a child, and he also speaks Spanish, Portuguese, and French with some fluency. Djokovic has also shown knowledge of several other languages, including Russian and Chinese.
At the past United Cup in Perth, Djokovic was responding to a press conference when a Chinese journalist tried to teach him how to say 'Happy New Year' for his fans in China, and the former world No. 1 surprised everyone with a quick response in Chinese: “Happy New Year. Thank you for your support. I love you, China.” He also called the reporter "my good friend."
In the Shanghai press conference, he once again spoke in Chinese: “My love for tennis is as deep as ever.” He then added in English: “Something like that. I guess the Chinese, I see a lot of eyebrows being lifted up, so I probably missed a couple of words there,” he said. “I have to work on my Chinese. I have regressed, I must say. Five years, it's been way too long, I have to practice.”
He tried again: “Oh, yeah, another one, okay. Well, I'll try another sentence, trying to rectify my mistakes from the last one.” He then added in Chinese: “I wish you peace.”
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“Okay? We got it.” Djokovic joked before continuing the conference in English, mentioning how special it always is to play in that country: "A lot of great support from the fans here in China. They are probably the most unique, the most passionate fans".
"You know, they're always so dedicated, daily waiting for you, giving you presents and really feeding you with a lot of love and energy. So that's something that I was very excited to experience once again. Yeah, I'm just enjoying my time so far in China."
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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