Novak Djokovic was asked about his love for tennis, and the Serbian said his feelings were strong enough to want to stay involved in the sport when he retires.
For a long time, Novak Djokovic lived somewhat in the shadow of his great rivals Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal because of the greater fan adoration those two received at most tournaments.
Despite not enjoying the same level of crowd support, Djokovic has statistically surpassed Federer and Nadal due to having more weeks at No. 1, more Grand Slams, and more Masters 1000 titles.
Breaking those records, Federer’s retirement and Nadal’s repeated physical injuries in the last two years have led to Djokovic finally receiving more affection from fans worldwide, who realize how significant his legacy is.
Djokovic is in China preparing for the Shanghai Masters, which will be his first tournament in the country since 2019. He is adored by millions of fans all over China, who have missed watching him play.
A large crowd gathered to greet the 24-time Grand Slam champion at the airport, demonstrating his popularity. However, they were left disappointed after a mix-up led to Djokovic missing them.
He is also a voice everyone in the tennis world listens to and respects. That is why his recent comments about Jannik Sinner’s doping case were notable after the World Anti-Doping Agency(WADA) elected to appeal the original case.
Djokovic responded to the question about his love for the sport by saying it runs deeper than a tournament or a single success or failure. His years at the top make his connection to the sport a special one.