Ex-WTA Pro Compares Novak Djokovic with Martina Navratilova to Explain Why Crowd in Shanghai is Embracing the Serb
Novak Djokovic will face Valentin Vacherot for a spot in the Shanghai Masters final for the sixth time in his career.
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Novak Djokovic, Martina Navratilova (Images via X)
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Novak Djokovic is in Shanghai for the penultimate Masters 1000 of the season. He has already booked a spot in the semifinals and is scheduled to lock horns with qualifier Valentin Vacherot, who has knocked out four seeded players.
Recently, former WTA player Pam Shriver compared Djokovic to Martina Navratilova‘s career. Shriver said during Navratilova’s prime, she was not appreciated by the fans and they rather supported Chris Evert, Tracy Austin, or Steffi Graf.
But in the last couple of years of Navratilova’s career, fans started to show a lot of support similar to what is now happening with Djokovic, who often admitted that he was not appreciated by the fans when Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal were part of the tour. Shriver said during the Inside-In tennis podcast:
And it’s the exact same thing that’s happening with Novak. Even if you were a Federer fan or a Nadal fan and you really didn’t like this guy Djokovic because he beat your guy so many different times, now he’s the last one standing. Now they’re looking at his record, going ‘holy moly, are we ever going to see a man again win 25? Well, 24 majors trying to win 25. And I love it. It’s fun.
Djokovic is bidding to win his record-extending fifth Shanghai Masters title, last winning it in 2018. Last year, he lost in straight sets to World No.2 Jannik Sinner in the final. Djokovic last lifted a Big Title at the 2024 Paris Masters by beating Carlos Alcaraz.
This year, he played two finals, winning the Geneva Open by beating Hubert Hurkacz and losing the Miami Open to Jakub Mensik. The Shanghai Masters is his first tournament since his defeat to Sinner in the US Open semifinal.
Novak Djokovic is grateful for the crowd’s support in Shanghai
Novak Djokovic, for sure, is not able to play to his full potential because of the scoring conditions in Shanghai. He vomited on the court multiple times and looked completely exhausted during his fourth-round clash with Jaume Munar. But what kept him going was the fans’ support, for which the 38-year-old is nothing but grateful.
It’s no secret I love playing in China. I just mentioned the support of the crowd definitely makes you feel comfortable, gives you wind in your sails. When you’re on the court, feeling down, they lift you up. I’ve been struggling quite a bit with energy levels. The crowd feels it, and they stand behind me. I can hear their noise, and that energy drives me. As much as I’m suffering, at the same time I’m enjoying playing in front of them.
Novak Djokovic said at the press conference
After the Shanghai Masters, Djokovic confirmed that he will be playing the first edition of the Hellenic Championship, set to start on November 2 in Athens. Last year, he skipped the ATP Finals, and this year, his participation in the year-end championships is also uncertain.
Djokovic will once again be reaching the No.4 spot on the rankings table if he reaches the final, as he will have 4,830 points. World No.3 Taylor Fritz has 4,645 points. But Alexander Zverev will continue to remain in the third position even if Djokovic clinches his record-extending 41st Masters 1000 title.
Djokovic is the highest-ranked player in the draw as Fritz and Zverev crashed out of the tournament. World No.1 withdrew from the tournament after suffering an injury during his Japan Open, while Jannik Sinner’s title defense ended in complete disappointment after cramps forced him to hand the walkover to Tallon Griekspoor in the third round.
Also read: Aryna Sabalenka Seeks Credit From Novak Djokovic for his Heroic Performances in Shanghai
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