Novak Djokovic, the Serbian tennis icon, has issued a heartfelt apology to his fans in China after a mix-up at the airport prevented him from meeting them upon his arrival. Djokovic, who returned to the country for the prestigious Shanghai Masters after a five-year hiatus, was unaware that a crowd of fans had gathered to greet him. Instead, he was escorted through a different exit, missing the opportunity to interact with his supporters.

In a video posted on social media, Djokovic expressed his regret, saying, “I am in China after five years and I miss you. I’m so sorry, really sorry that we didn’t meet at the airport yesterday. I was sad when I found out, I didn’t know you were there. They took me to another exit. I hope to see many of you in Beijing or Shanghai soon. I’m excited to be in China, mostly because of you who have been following me for years. I love you, I love you all.”

This return to China is significant for Djokovic, who has previously won the Shanghai Masters title four times—in 2012, 2013, 2015, and 2018. The tournament is seen as a crucial opportunity for Djokovic to bounce back after a third-round loss at the US Open to Alexei Popyrin. With the Shanghai Masters offering a lucrative £820,000 winner’s prize, Djokovic has his sights set on capturing his fifth title in the city and, potentially, his 100th career title overall.

After receiving a bye in the first round, Djokovic awaits the winner of the match between Alex Michelsen and Yunchaokete Bu in the second round. If he advances, the competition could become stiffer, with potential quarterfinal and semifinal clashes against Andrey Rublev and Alexander Zverev, respectively.

Djokovic’s track record in China, along with his impressive form this season, has left fans eager to see if he can inch closer to Roger Federer’s career title tally of 103. As the Serbian prepares for his matches, the anticipation in China continues to grow, both for his performance on the court and for the chance to connect with his loyal fans.