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‘You Stole My..’ – Encouraging Shanghai Masters Tradition Sparks Quirky Reaction From Novak Djokovic as He Takes Cheeky Jibe at Holger Rune

Published 10/04/2023, 4:59 PM EDT

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USA Today via Reuters

One of the most prestigious events on the tennis calendar, the Rolex Shanghai Masters has commenced. Top male tennis players across the globe have made it to Shanghai, China to succeed in this famous event. The hard-court tournament, which is the only ATP 1000 event in Asia, has grown in stature over the years. A few years back, it started a tradition to provide seeded players with private locker rooms. As Holger Rune showcased the tradition, World Number 1, Novak Djokovic had an interesting reaction.

Djokovic is on cloud 9 currently after he clinched his 24th Grand Slam title by winning the US Open. Here’s what happened on social media that led to Djokovic’s hilarious response.

Novak Djokovic takes a humorous jab at Holger Rune

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Following his US Open victory, Djokovic hasn’t played a match as he has taken a break following a grueling US Open campaign. As a result, he’s also giving Shanghai Masters a miss. Meanwhile, 20-year-old Holger Rune is all set to attain glory as he gears up for the tournament.

via Reuters

The Shanghai Masters has a tradition of giving seeded players their private locker room. With Djokovic absent from the tournament, his private locker room at the tournament has gone to Holger Rune. The Danish star took to Twitter to share the clip of the locker room, as it had Djokovic’s name in the list displayed at the room entrance.

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While sharing a glimpse of the locker room, Rune wrote, “How cool is this locker room.” It caught the attention of Djokovic, who reminisced about the memories inside this room. Replying to Rune’s Tweet, he said, “You stole my locker room!??” Djokovic tried to take a humorous jab at the World Number 5 as he made his way to his locker room.

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With the likes of Djokovic and Tsitsipas missing, Rune is the third seed in China. Despite his turbulent form off late, he’s one of the firm favorites to stake a claim on the title. Handed a bye in the opening round, Rune will take on Brandon Nakashima of the United States.

ATP Stars Carlos Alcaraz and Holger Rune Issued Longevity Warning With an Inimitable Novak Djokovic’s Feat- ‘Going to Take a Lot..’

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Meanwhile, Djokovic, who is skipping this event, will make a return later this month after his US Open exploits. The Serb will participate in the Rolex Paris Masters that is scheduled to commence on October 30. It’ll be interesting to see if Djokovic can continue his winning form on his return to the court.

WATCH THIS STORY: ‘Difficult To Compare’ – A Week After Novak Djokovic’s US Open Victory, Serena Williams’ Ex-coach Dishes Out The Ultimate Verdict On The G.O.A.T. Debate In Tennis

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Written by:

Vatsal Shah

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Vatsal Shah is a tennis author at EssentiallySports. He is a die hard fan of tennis and is an ardent follower of Rafael Nadal and is inspired by his never-say-die attitude. Vatsal has completed an Executive Post Graduate Diploma in Sports Management.
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Edited by:

Arijit Saha