Novak Djokovic’s playful arrival with Zverev steals the show at Shanghai practice session

Novak Djokovic joked about his arrival at the Shanghai Masters practice session alongside Alexander Zverev. The 24-time Grand Slam champion has been a fan sensation in China, with crowds gathering to catch a glimpse of Nole, who returned to China after five years.

The crowd's love for Djokovic has been evident in recent days, and the Serbian star has shown his appreciation for the local fans, often surprising them by speaking a few phrases in Chinese.

Nole entered the tournament as the second seed and made a successful debut against Alex Michelsen (7-6, 7-6), advancing to the third round, where he awaits the winner between Flavio Cobolli and Stan Wawrinka. On the same side of the draw, Zverev defeated Mattia Bellucci and will face the winner between Jordan Thompson and Tallon Griekspoor.

As both prepared to debut in the tournament, they arrived together at the practice session, with Djokovic walking behind Zverev toward the stadium, while dozens of fans crowded around to photograph the Serbian star.

The world No. 4 shared a video on social media with Zverev, showing their arrival and some moments from their practice session together. Djokovic also took time to sign autographs and take photos with fans: "Just a normal stroll to practice court with Alexander Zverev. P.S. Watching his back, making sure no one approaches him from behind," Djokovic said.