Novak Djokovic makes first big announcement about his future plans after Paris Olympics triumph

Fresh off winning the Olympic gold, Novak Djokovic has announced that he will take part in the Shanghai Masters for the first time since 2019.

Novak Djokovic makes first big announcement about his future plans after Paris Olympics triumph

Novak Djokovic (Image via Imago)

Novak Djokovic is riding high following his win over Carlos Alcaraz to claim the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics. He has announced that he will be back in action at the Shanghai Masters later this year for the first time since 2019.

Djokovic has been playing a more tailored schedule in recent years, playing in tournaments he believes he can win. Last year, after winning the US Open, he did not play in any other ATP tournaments except for the Paris Masters and ATP Finals, while also representing Serbia at the Davis Cup.

This year, his decision to play at the Shanghai Masters may suggest a different approach from the 37-year-old. He has already withdrawn from the Canadian Open which began on Monday (August 5) and has competed in only eight tournaments this year, including the Olympic Games. The Shanghai Masters gets underway on September 30 and concludes on October 10.

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In a brief message on Shanghai Masters social media pages, Djokovic revealed in both English and Chinese that he will compete in the tournament after being away for five years.

Hello, I can't wait to be back to play in the Rolex Shanghai Masters. You are so great China! I love you.
Novak Djokovic said via X (formerly known as Twitter)

Djokovic is a four-time champion of the Shanghai Masters. The tournament was canceled by the ATP for two years (2020-2022) due to COVID-19. The last time he played at the event was in 2019 when he reached the quarterfinals before surprisingly losing to Stefanos Tsitsipas.

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Novak Djokovic admits nothing surpasses the feeling of winning gold for Serbia at the Paris Olympics

Novak Djokovic achieved one of his biggest goals of the season by winning gold at the Paris Olympics. The 37-year-old revealed the achievement was the biggest sporting success of his career.

Novak Djokovic (via Imago)

The Serbian has won 24 Grand Slam titles, becoming the only men’s player to reach the tally. However, he had never won the Olympic gold, until now. He won bronze in Beijing 2008 but couldn’t make the podium in the next three editions of the Summer Games. Having finally clinched the gold, he admitted that he was a lot more delighted than he had ever dreamed of.

Everything I felt in that moment when I won surpassed everything I thought or hoped that it would. Being on that court with the Serbian flag raising, singing the Serbian anthem, with the gold around my neck, I think nothing can beat that in terms of professional sport. It definitely stands out as the biggest sporting achievement I have had.

Novak Djokovic said (via BBC)

The former World No. 1 became the fifth player in history to win the Golden Slam (winning all four Grand Slams and a singles Olympic gold). He joins the elite group of Rafael Nadal, Serena Williams, Andre Agassi and Steffi Graf.

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