Novak Djokovic makes admission about one thing he must work on - 'I have regressed'

Novak Djokovic admits there is something he still needs to improve as he approaches the end of his glittering career.

The 24-time grand slam winner is in China for the Shanghai Masters, his first tournament in the country for five years. Djokovic has made the most of his trip to the Far East by reengaging with the history and culture of the country, even having a game on the Great Wall of China as part of a PR stunt.

Addressing his continued plus his desire to remain in the sport beyond retirement, said in Chinese: “My love for tennis is as deep as ever.”

Back in English, the Serbian added: “Something like that. I guess the Chinese, I see a lot of eyebrows being lift up, so probably missed a couple of words there. I have to work on my Chinese. I have regressed, I must say. Five years, it's been way too long, I have to practice.”

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He tried again, saying: “Oh, yeah, another one, okay. Well, I'll put another sentence, trying to rectify my mistakes from the last one.” He then added in Chinese: “I wish you peace.”

Again in English, he said: “Okay? We got it.” Speaking of his love of the country, Djokovic hailed the “great support from the fans here in China”.

He added: “They are probably the most unique, the most passionate fans and, you know, always so dedicated, daily waiting for you, giving you presents and really feeding you with a lot of love and energy. So that's something that I was very excited to experience once again. Yeah, I'm just enjoying my time so far in China.”

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Djokovic also hailed Chinese culture and quinine, jokingly saying: “The secret of me doing well in Asian Swing [the series of tournaments in the Far East] and in China? I think I love dumplings and Chinese language, I think that helps.”

After being given a first-round bye, the 37-year-old will face American Alex Michelsen on Saturday, when Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner will also be in second round action.

Sinner is competing under a cloud after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) launched an appeal against a ruling of “no fault or negligence” for two positive drugs tests he returned earlier this year.

A tribunal accepted Sinner’s explanation that the banned substance entered his body as a result of a massage from his physio, who had used a spray containing the steroid to treat a finger cut. But WADA has appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport, seeking to impose a ban of up to two years on the number one.

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