Serbian star Novak Djokovic is undoubtedly one of the all-time greats of tennis. His 24 Grand Slam titles speak of his skills on the tennis court. However, the Serb is not only a skilled tennis player but also a prodigious polyglot. Novak speaks a whopping 11 different languages, and his prowess stumped Borna Coric in Shanghai in 2018.
Djokovic has an impressive record in China, adding titles to his ever-growing silverware collection. He won the Rolex Shanghai Masters title a record four times in his career, the last one in 2018. Djokovic had defeated Coric 6-3, 6-4 in straight sets to claim the Masters title.
Recently, an old clip of Novak from the presentation ceremony surfaced on the internet again. The Serb can be heard speaking Mandarin flawlessly as he thanked the crowd for their support. Djokovic’s ability stunned Coric, whose mouth hung open in awe.
Remember the 2018 Shanghai trophy ceremony when Djokovic started speaking fluent Mandarin out of nowhere and Coric was half-stunned, half in love pic.twitter.com/ZkjTi4AH9T
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) October 4, 2023
Novak also teased Borna a little, who could not grasp the language during his stay in the country. The Serb jokingly told the crowd he did not want to make Borna look bad, before launching into his speech in Mandarin. The caption of the video pretty much summed up Borna’s reaction, “When the top student says he hasn’t studied.”
Fans are amazed too, and cannot get enough of Novak’s mastery of the language. Most fans agreed that there really is nothing that Novak cannot do. Here are a few reactions to the old clip.
I think I am equally envious/in awe of his language ability as I am of his tennis ability
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) October 4, 2023
This is my favorite thing about Novak. His facility for languages.
— Viuda Alegre ☮ (@ViudaAlegre13) October 4, 2023
Is there anything that Djokovic can’t do? This fellow is a real life super hero🙌🏿
— Mlalazi kaNoxhaka (@LyfeUrbanzulu) October 5, 2023
In addition to being one of the best athletes in the world, Novak Djokovic is also very talented off the court. He has always played beautifully in China, with the crowd support to boost his morale. This year though, the Serb decided to skip the events, much to the disappointment of his Chinese fans.
Why did Novak Djokovic withdraw from China?
The Serb skipped the tours in China this year. Djokovic has had a busy year and has much to show for it. He won three Grand Slams this year alone, the lost one being the US Open. With the title at Flushing Meadows under his belt, Novak has equaled Margaret Court’s record for most Grand Slams won in the Open Era.
Over the years, some of the best support I receive anywhere in the world is in China. Shanghai has always been one of my favorite tournaments in the season. I will be missing my #NoleFam in China. I hope that I can come back to China in the future and play in front of all of you…
— Novak Djokovic (@DjokerNole) September 17, 2023
Djokovic has an impressive record in China. He has an 11-0 record in finals played in the country. Novak has won the China Open in Beijing six times and Shanghai Masters four times. The Serb also won the Nitto ATP Finals in Shanghai in 2008.
After a busy North American hardcourt swing, Novak Djokovic has earned his break. He was last seen at the Ryder Cup, having fun on the golf course. Djokovic will play in the Paris Masters next.
