“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,” wrote Novak Djokovic on X two years ago. It isn’t hard to see why; Djokovic reigns supreme in China, having won Olympic bronze in Beijing, the Beijing Open a record six times, and the Shanghai Masters a record 4 times. Now, appearing in Shanghai for the 11th time, Djokovic has earned another record just one match in.

It was a battle of veterans in the Round of 64, with the Serb easily overcoming Marin Cilic, 7-6(2), 6-4 in the Round of 64. With the win, the 38-year-old Djokovic is now the oldest player to defeat a Grand Slam champion at an ATP Masters 1000 event since the format’s introduction in 1990 — a testament to his enduring class and competitiveness even twenty-two years into his career.

The match itself was a gritty battle, with Djokovic admitting he had to “fire up all engines” and “suffered a lot on the court” to overcome a valiant Čilić, extending his dominant head-to-head record against the Croatian to 20-2. Yet, it was the act of grace and cultural connection after the match that truly captured the hearts of his global audience.

As reported by tennis analyst Jose Moron on X, “Djokovic is even capable of writing in Chinese. Not only a talent on the court, but a privileged mind.” Indeed, in a gesture that resonated with his Chinese fans, Novak Djokovic penned the Chinese character for “chicken” on the television camera lens. It’s a reference to the moniker bestowed upon him by Chinese fans at the start of his career, translating to “hot, in-form chicken.” It’s a Chinese turn of phrase used to describe a hot new sensation.

This was a heartfelt message to his supporters in China, symbolizing that he hasn’t forgotten them, especially after he returned to the country after his five-year absence last year. “I can’t wait. I’m super excited to see my Chinese fans, all the tennis fans,” said Djokovic of his return to Shanghai in 2024. “It’s one of the nicest tennis tournaments in the world. Five years has been too long to not visit China, so I’m really looking forward to [it].”

It isn’t the first time that Djokovic has broken out his Mandarin skills. At a United Cup presser last year, Djokovic was asked to say “Happy New Year” in Mandarin by a Chinese reporter as consolation for beating the Chinese doubles team. But Djokovic, going the extra mile, said those words and more as he let loose with a whole string of phrases in Mandarin, shocking both the reporter and teammate Olga Danilovic.

So, with the gesture he made this year at the Shanghai Masters, it only highlights how he connects with fans, no matter the language or culture. It adds another layer to Djokovic that goes beyond his incredible accomplishments on the court, like his record of 40 ATP Masters 1000 titles. If he were to make it 41 titles here in Shanghai, he’d also become the tournament’s oldest champion at 38, beating out Roger Federer who won it in 2017 at 36. But have you noticed a certain piece of equipment he’s been using in his training sessions lately?

Novak Djokovic is training with advanced tech

So, recently, a social media clip caught the attention of many fans. “He’s been in the lab 😳🥽,” the post said, showing Novak Djokovic in a reflex-oriented training session with his team. What really stood out right away was the tech device Djokovic was supposedly wearing, which were those black glasses. The Serbian was spotted doing ball-catching drills at various times while wearing them.

Even though his team hasn’t put out any official info, you can still get a sense of what these visual training devices are all about. There are a bunch of eyewear products out there for athletes in all kinds of sports, and they say these can really help with focus, attention, and performance. Neuro training is really gaining traction among athletes who want to keep their careers going strong. That might be why Djokovic made that choice.

For example, NBA stars LeBron James and Stephen Curry have both tapped into neuro training tools to enhance their mental performance, which has helped improve their basketball skills. So, it looks like James has been seen using the Calm meditation app to help him focus better, while Curry has been using strobe glasses to boost his shooting accuracy.

Well, it looks like all that training really paid off for him! He managed to beat his opponent in the round of 64 and is moving on to the next challenge at the Shanghai Masters against Germany’s Yannick Hanfmann.