Zheng Qinwen finds it hilarious that Novak Djokovic takes gold medal everywhere after Paris success

China’s tennis star Zheng Qinwen has revealed that former world number one Novak Djokovic of Serbia carries his Olympic gold medal everywhere. The 37-year-old is regarded as the greatest player in the history of men’s tennis in the singles category, having won as many as 24 Grand Slam titles.

The 2024 season has been a mixed one for Djokovic, who, for the first time in seven years, failed to win a single Grand Slam in a calendar year. However, he managed to complete his trophy cabinet by winning an Olympic gold medal for his country. He defeated Spain’s young tennis star Carlos Alcaraz in the final of the singles category event in straight sets with a score of 7-6, 7-6.

After the match, Djokovic burst into tears, showing how much the victory meant to him. The former world number one is now in Shanghai, China, to participate in the upcoming Shanghai Masters. Qinwen, China’s highest-ranked player in women’s tennis, is currently taking part in the China Open, where she revealed that the Belgrade-born star carries his Olympic gold medal everywhere.

“I think this is a very funny story,” she said. “People talk about Djokovic takes his gold medal everywhere he goes. It's really funny that he has the gold medal here. He actually invited me to the Great Wall, but because of the schedule, I couldn't be there. I think, indeed, the gold medal brings me a lot of energy, just like Djokovic. He has the gold medal everywhere he goes, from Europe to the U.S. and all the way to China. Of course, the gold medal brought him a lot of great energy. I did not have the chance to take a picture with his gold medal. I really wish I could practice with him with his gold medal.”