Bad start! Djokovic disappointed his fans in China and had to apologize. Why is he so popular here?

He is one of the main draws of the attractive Masters tournament in Shanghai. It doesn’t change the fact that Djokovic has Sinner and other elite tennis players watching his back at the moment. Why did he have to apologize to his fans in China?

• Djokovic is one of the biggest stars of the Shanghai tournament
• The start of the tournament didn’t go so well for him in terms of the fans
• The Serbian tennis player missed them at the airport and soon rushed to apologize

His popularity in China is a known thing. Novak Djokovic has already scored four triumphs right in Shanghai. The playing legend enjoyed titles in China’s most populous city in 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2018. However, also thanks to the covid pandemic, Djokovic has not appeared here for five years.

Of course, his popularity is not just based on success. The Serb also won the hearts of many Chinese by his unexpected reaction earlier this year, when he let his Chinese stand out.

His Chinese fans could not wait for their favourite to arrive in Shanghai. On this point, however, Djokovic disappointed them.

He used a different exit to leave the airport and so there was nothing of the warm welcome. But the current number four player in the ATP rankings didn’t wait for anything and soon rushed to apologize.

“I was sad when I found out everything, I didn’t know you were expecting me there,” explained one of the main favourites of the Masters tournament in China. He will have the opportunity to make it up to his admirers on the courts.

Djokovic in Shanghai

The Masters tournament in Shanghai has prepared a fabulous financial incentive for its participants. It will include a trio of Czechs.

Three of the biggest favourites are in the top half of the field. In it we can find Italian Sinner, his great rival Alcaraz and Russian Medvedev.

Djokovic is in the bottom half of the field and in his third match he may face the American Tiafoe. One round away, Russia’s Rublyov and Germany’s Zverev are under consideration for a possible semi-final.

But we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves. Djokovic has already surprisingly dropped out in the opening stages of tournaments several times this year. Let’s see how the environment in Shanghai suits him. He’ll have no shortage of fan support here.

Source: ATP, Mirror