Novak Djokovic wows fans with Chinese prowess and sportsmanship at United Cup
The ongoing United Cup team tournament in Australia features Serbia's own Novak Djokovic leading the team. The tennis players from the Balkan nation, placed in Group E, outplayed both China and the Czech Republic, thereby occupying the first position and securing their advance to the tournament's quarterfinals.
2:00 PM EST, January 2, 2024
A surprising scenario unfolded at the press conference following the match against China. A journalist made an effort to soften the blow of defeat for the fans in China by asking Djokovic to address them in their native language. Djokovic promptly obliged by extending a New Year's greeting.
Unsatisfied with only a holiday greeting, the ATP ranking leader took it a step further by adding a few sentences in Chinese. Djokovic likely picked up these phrases while participating in tournaments held in China. Despite they seemed like rehearsed lines, Djokovic managed to say, approximately:
"Happy New Year! How are you? Thank you for your support! I love you, China!" - he recited.
Djokovic's unexpected linguistic display sent a wave of laughter throughout the press conference, inducing Djokovic himself to chuckle. His teammate's reaction drew attention too. Danilović, apparently incredulous, held her head in her hands and widened her eyes in disbelief at the unfolding spectacle.
Evidently, at 36 years of age, Djokovic is kicking off the new season in good spirits. Djokovic currently holds the record for the most victories in men's Grand Slam tournaments. The ATP rankings leader has accumulated a whopping 24 of these titles throughout his career. As the Australian Open approaches on January 15th, it's undeniable that he remains one of the favorites.
