SUMMARY
- Novak Djokovic impresses tennis world with fluency in Mandarin during press conference after Serbia's United Cup victory over China in Perth.
- Multilingual Djokovic who is proficient in 11 languages leaves the press room and fans amazed with his Chinese language skills.
Novak Djokovic left the tennis world in awe, not with his powerful shots on the court but with his unexpected fluency in Mandarin the Chinese language. This remarkable moment unfolded during a press conference after Serbia’s win over China in a United Cup match in Perth.
When a journalist asked Djokovic to send New Year wishes to his Chinese fans, acknowledging their potential disappointment over Serbia’s victory, Djokovic not only wished them a Happy New Year but spoke fluently in Mandarin, leaving the press room and his Serbian teammates in splits. The exchange became a highlight of the United Cup action in Perth.
Novak Djokovic speaks perfect Chinese to a journalist who asked him to say “Happy New Year”
He ends up saying that & much more. 😂
Fluent in 11 languages. Wow.
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) January 1, 2024
Djokovic’s multilinguistic skills extend beyond Mandarin encompassing 11 languages including Serbian, Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, and Japanese. One fan humorously remarked, “Man is the greatest tennis player of all time and additionally knows every language in the world. Why does God have favorite children?”
Man is the greatest tennis player of all time and additionally knows every language in the world. Why does god have fvrt children? https://t.co/WTEPnnWMpF
— The Honorable Judge Arthur Vandelay presiding (@Art__Van_delay) January 2, 2024
In another moment where he showcased his Chinese language, he crashed into the interview room at the United Cup where he heard the Chinese players, Zheng Qinwen and Zhang Zhizhen conversing in Mandarin. He greeted the players with a cheerful “Ni hao [Hello],” and Zheng Qinwen, the Chinese women star in particular, expressed delight, labeling Djokovic as her idol.
Novak Djokovic crashes Team China’s United Cup presser and impresses with his mandarin 🤩🗣️#UnitedCup pic.twitter.com/PVQmoii2Pr
— Eurosport (@eurosport) January 1, 2024
The exchange added a touch of humor to the atmosphere, with Zheng humorously pleading for Djokovic not to leave before getting his signature. As Djokovic left the room, Zheng turned back and exclaimed, “Please don’t go, I still haven’t got your signature yet,” before bursting into laughter. The lighthearted moment injected a sense of joy into the proceedings bringing players and fans closer.
Novak Djokovic’s stellar start in 2024 season leads Serbia to victory
Novak Djokovic made a triumphant 2024 debut, leading Team Serbia to victory in the United Cup against China in Perth. Djokovic expressed satisfaction with his debut performance of 2023, describing his straight-sets win over China’s Zhang Zhizhen as an ideal start to the summer. He showcased swift court coverage and powerful shotmaking, securing a 6-3, 6-2 victory, contributing to Serbia’s 2-1 win in the tie.
Reflecting on the match, Djokovic acknowledged a bit of rustiness early on but felt the momentum shift in his favor after breaking Zhang’s serve. He is currently in the process of building his fitness for the upcoming Australian Open, aiming to reach peak form in Melbourne. The Serbian maestro stated, “This is as good as it gets for the opening week, and hopefully I can build from here and go in the right direction.”
Majestic 𝐍𝐎𝐕𝐀𝐊 🥶
🇷🇸 @DjokerNole impresses in Serbia’s #UnitedCup debut and gives his country a 1-0 lead against China! pic.twitter.com/Rnhj4RMUlv
— United Cup (@UnitedCupTennis) December 31, 2023
While playing for Team Serbia, Djokovic expressed a desire to win another Olympic medal for Serbia at the Paris Games. He expressed, “Hopefully I can win another medal for Serbia in the Olympics. I would love to do that.” Djokovic, eyeing his 11th Australian Open title, is driven by a winning mindset and ambitious goals, expressing his belief in breaking records and making more history in the game in 2024.