Novak Djokovic has confirmed his participation at the Shanghai Masters and has discovered his fate in China, having recently uprooted his family to a new country. Last week, the tournament released a statement announcing that Djokovic would be competing, but he had not taken to the court professionally since losing in the semi-final of the US Open.
Since defeat at Flushing Meadows, the Serbian star has reportedly uprooted his family to Athens, Greece. Tennis24 claim that Djokovic’s two children, Stefan, 10, and Tara, eight, have been enrolled in St. Lawrence College, a private and independent British school, while the family has found a place to live in the Southern Suburbs.
He has been spotted on several occasions in the area also, including being joined by the court by his son at the Kavouri Tennis Club.
The Djokovic family is said to have relocated from Belgrade, Serbia, after claims he was targeted by the government in his homeland after supporting student-led protests against President Aleksandar Vucic in December.
He has not explicitly spoken out against the government or president, but it emerged that he was hoping to move his family to Greece using a Golden Visa programme, which grants residence to non-EU citizens who make investments in the country.
His future had been in up the air following the move, but Djokovic’s participation at the Shanghai Masters has since been confirmed and he is officially in the draw.
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And the veteran is on a collision course with world No. 2 and defending champion Jannik Sinner, who Djokovic could meet in the semi-final.
Djokovic lost to Sinner in the final four of both the French Open and Wimbledon this year.
He enters the competition as the fourth seed and will play the winner of Corentin Moutet and Marin Cilic in his opening match, before a potential third-round tie with Frances Tiafoe, Andrey Rublev waiting in the fourth round and a possible quarter-final against Ben Shelton or Casper Ruud.
On the other side of the draw, Carlos Alcaraz can face Alexander Zverev in the opposite semi-final.
Djokovic has struggled to overcome Alcaraz and Sinner in 2024, but vowed to keep fighting after his US Open exit.
“It will be very difficult for me in the future to overcome the hurdle of Sinner, Alcaraz, in the best-of-five on the Grand Slams,” Djokovic conceded. “I think I have a better chance in best-of-three, but best-of-five, it’s tough.
“I’m not giving up on Grand Slams in that regard, having said that. I’m going to continue fighting and trying to get to the finals and fight for another trophy at least. But, you know, it’s going to be a very difficult task.”
