Djokovic toasts China's success after breakthrough year

RIYADH — Novak Djokovic reckons China's breakthrough year in men's tennis is crucial for the development of the sport in the country.

Throughout 2023, the trio of Zhang Zhizhen, Wu Yibing and Shang Juncheng continually pushed Chinese tennis to new heights on the ATP circuit, and world No 1 Djokovic was impressed by their progress.

"The rise of the male players like Zhang and Wu is vital for tennis in China. On the men's side, having players that are breaking into the top 100 and top 50 in the world and trying to reach the greatest heights and compete for the greatest prizes in tournaments is inspiring for the sport's growth," Djokovic told Xinhua this week at the Riyadh Season Tennis Cup in the capital of Saudi Arabia.

"China has seen more success in women's tennis. The sport's growth in the country needs to have male players breaking into the top ranks," he added.

Zhang became the first Chinese mainland player to reach the quarterfinals of an ATP 1000 tournament at this year's Madrid Open. He also reached the last 32 at both the French Open and US Open.

In July, Zhang rose to No 52 in the world rankings, the highest position ever held by a male Chinese mainland player. The 27-year-old ended the year ranked 58th.

Meanwhile, the 24-year-old Wu became the first Chinese mainland player to lift an ATP Tour trophy with victory at the Dallas Open in February. He reached a career-high ranking of world No 54 in May.

At 18, Shang is the youngest of China's trailblazing men's trio, and the teenager is ready to build on the achievements of his elder colleagues.

Shang qualified for this year's Australian Open to join Zhang and Wu in Melbourne — the first time China was represented by three players in the men's singles main draw in the Open era.

"Those two guys, they are definitely my inspiration," Shang said at the time. "They've been on tour longer than me and are way more experienced than me."

Djokovic also shared his excitement about returning to China and the affection he holds for his Chinese fans.

"I haven't been to China since 2019, and I miss the fantastic times and success I've had in both Beijing and Shanghai. I'm really looking forward to being back. The support and love from my Chinese fans have always been overwhelming," he said.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion highlighted Saudi Arabia's success in winning the bid to host the World Expo 2030, and sees the event as an important platform for countries and regions to showcase their cultural heritage.

"It's a big deal for Saudi Arabia to host the World Expo 2030. It symbolizes the country's growing presence on the global stage. I'm thrilled to see Saudi Arabia opening its doors to the world's best athletes, entertainers and business leaders," he added.

Djokovic and world No 2 Carlos Alcaraz are the main attractions in Riyadh this week, with their rivalry arguably providing the most intriguing matchups of the year.

Ahead of his match against the Spanish superstar on Wednesday, Djokovic said: "Playing against Alcaraz, one of the top players in the world here in Riyadh is amazing for the sport. It reflects the increasing popularity of tennis in the region."

On his first visit to Saudi Arabia, Djokovic expressed a keen interest in experiencing the country's culture.

"There's so much to learn about this captivating country," he said, adding that he is looking forward to returning for a more comprehensive visit before 2030.

Xinhua