Novak Djokovic Is Roared on by the Chinese against a Home Player!
Locker Room
October 2, 2026
Novak Djokovic can rarely have felt quite so loved as he did in Beijing on Friday.
A raucous Chinese crowd supported Novak against a home-grown Chinese player. It was a clear demonstration of how completely Djokovic is revered and adored in the Far East.
Novak Djokovic could come and play at Wimbledon 2027 at the age of forty next summer – and he still wouldn’t receive support like this.
For Yunchaokete Bu, the atmosphere must have been pretty dispiriting. It’s the equivalent of Jack Draper listening to incessant cheers for his opponent on Centre Court at Wimbledon.
To make matters worse for the Chinese underdog, he had bravely won the opening set – and looked capable of causing an almighty upset.
‘He was so solid,’ admitted Djokovic. ‘But the atmosphere was amazing. I have to pinch myself. I honestly didn’t expect that playing against a Chinese player.’
The crowd willed Djokovic to stay in the fight and claw his way back from the point of oblivion.
The volume of support for Novak in the second-set tie-break was truly astonishing. And Novak hit the ball with such sweet strength in those vital moments that you just knew he had been inspired.
You might have thought the Chinese crowd merely wanted a third set – and would switch allegiance back to their own man for the decider.
Not a bit of it. They cheered in delight as Novak took a commanding 4-0 lead in the third and crushed the hopes of the Chinese outsider.
And before we knew it, Novak had rolled back the years in one of his happiest hunting grounds to triumph 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.
The Serb is unbeaten at the China Open, and shows a mind-blowing consistency that Old Father Time has not yet denied him.
Novak Djokovic still has the power and movement of a man half his age when his tail is up. The Beijing audience couldn’t get enough of it. Wimbledon 2027 would welcome him too.
But Djokovic has always felt less loved than fellow legends Roger Federer and Rafael Nadal at the All England Club. Even the younger Carlos Alcaraz seems to attract more popularity.
Therefore evenings like this in Beijing must have felt very special to a man who has won it all.
And any afternoon or evening at Wimbledon 2027 will also feel special to anyone luck enough to land a Centre Court seat.
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