In a hard-fought round of 32 match at the 2025 Shanghai Masters, Novak Djokovic advanced past Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann with a 4-6, 7-5, 6-3 victory. This win marks a significant milestone in the Serbian legend’s career, as it propelled him into the 112th round of 16 at an ATP Masters 1000 event. This achievement ties him with his longtime rival Rafael Nadal for the most such appearances since the format’s introduction in 1990.

Following his match, during an on-court interview, Djokovic took a moment to express his profound appreciation for the overwhelming support from the Chinese fans. He said, “No, it’s incredible to be here playing in front of a very passionate crowd now. First couple of matches, you know, packed Stadium, one of the nicest and biggest stadiums we have in sport. It’s stunning, honestly. I cannot ask for more. I’m grinding almost three hours, third round of the Masters, 38, with the full stadium cheering my name. It’s a dream come true for me, honestly, so I’m very thankful.”

Novak Djokovic has a deep bond with his fans that goes way back. When he returned to China in 2024 after being away for several years, he took a moment to apologize to his supporters for being led out through a different airport exit (he got injured at Shanghai last year).

The ATP star shared how much he missed them and highlighted that, aside from his home country, his Chinese fans are “probably the biggest supporters I have.” He frequently talks about how dedicated they are, mentioning that they wait “all night, all day” just for a chance to connect.

Djokovic really tries to show his appreciation by playing some quality tennis in return. His amazing performance and the love from the crowd in Shanghai, especially after a long three-hour effort, really highlighted the special connection he has with his fans in China. So, in the last match when he was there, Djokovic sent out another really heartfelt message to the Chinese crowd.

Novak Djokovic had to show some off-court skills

It was quite the showdown between two seasoned players in the Round of 64 of the Shanghai Masters, with Novak Djokovic taking down Marin Cilic pretty smoothly, 7-6(2), 6-4. By winning, the 38-year-old made history as the oldest player to beat a Grand Slam champion at an ATP Masters 1000 event since the format started back in 1990. The match was quite a tough fight, with Djokovic saying he had to “fire up all engines” and really “suffer a lot on the court” to get past a determined Cilic, which now brings his head-to-head record against the Croatian to 20-2.

But what really touched the hearts of his Chinese audience was the act of grace and cultural connection that happened after the match. Novak Djokovic wrote the Chinese character for “chicken” on the camera lens during the match. It’s a nickname that Chinese fans gave him when he first started out, which translates to “hot, in-form chicken.”

It’s a saying from China that captures the excitement of something that’s an up-and-coming sensation in the sport. He shared a heartfelt message with his supporters in China, showing that he hasn’t forgotten them, especially after coming back to the country last year after being away for five years. We’ll just have to wait and see if he can maintain his form and snag the Shanghai Masters title.