Tennis legend Novak Djokovic recently shared details on his son not accompanying him to the Shanghai Masters. The Serb’s son has often been spotted cheering him on during tournaments over the years but he wasn’t present at the ongoing Masters 1000 event.
What Did Novak Djokovic Say About Son Stefan’s Absence in Shanghai
When asked about his goals and family’s perspective on his career, Djokovic revealed his son Stefan plays tennis more actively and insisted to travel with him to China for the Shanghai Masters. The Serb claimed that his son could not be present in Shanghai due to school.
“Yeah, well my son, he plays tennis more and so he follows what’s going on. He was really insisting on traveling with me to China. He wants to travel with me everywhere, but he has to do school, and it’s not that simple. But he’s really in love with tennis and the sport,” Djokovic said.
The Serb, who reached the final of the Shanghai Masters last year, received a bye to the second round of this year’s tournament. Here, he will face Marin Čilić, who beat Nikoloz Basilashvili 6-3. 7-6(5) in the first round.
Novak Djokovic on ATP Finals Participation
The Serb also spoke about competing in the ATP Finals in Turin, stating that while he hopes to take part in the tournament, he isn’t sure yet.
“Yeah, it is a tournament where I had quite a bit of success in the last years, I won it two times, and, you know, hopefully I can be back, let’s see. I don’t make plans long-term anymore. I’ve said that, I said that in New York. So after Shanghai the only tournament I know I’m going to play is the one in Athens, and then let’s see if I play Turin or not, I’m not sure yet,” Djokovic said.
The 38-year-old last won the ATP Finals in 2023 after defeating Jannik Sinner in the final. He previously lost to the Italian during the round-robin but managed to qualify for the semifinals courtesy to his close wins over Holger Rune and Hubert Hurkacz. The Serb then beat Carlos Alcaraz and Sinner in straight sets to clinch a record seventh title at the ATP Finals.
Djokovic qualified for the year-end championships last year but did not compete due to injury. He is currently fourth in the race for the ATP Finals in 2025, with only Carlos Alcaraz and Jannik Sinner booking their place for the tournament in Turin.
