Djokovic gives Sinner advice after learning the extent of his injury

Although a few days have passed since he won his seventh title in Beijing, the reality is that Novak Djokovic has not stopped smiling. The Serbian is enjoying this Asian tour and is now aiming to continue his good streak at the Shanghai Masters 1000, where he arrived a few hours ago.

After receiving the first spotlight from the organization, the Belgrade native held his Media Day with the accredited press. He was asked what makes this tour in China special, what positive aspects he carries after his great week in Beijing, and there was even time to talk about others. As a good 'father' of the circuit he has become, Nole offered a couple of tips for Holger Rune and Jannik Sinner.

Beijing, the best moment of the year for Djokovic

“It’s great to be back in Shanghai once again. Beijing was a phenomenal week for me, undoubtedly the best week of this year. I am trying to build momentum here in Shanghai, leveraging the confidence and putting on another great performance in this tournament, another tournament in China where I have played very well throughout my career. I enjoy playing in China; I have said it many times, the fans and the support have always been tremendous. Last week was truly extraordinary, very special because of the support and affection I received from the people inside and outside the stadium. That energy is something I always need as a player on the court, and I try to use it to perform my best.”

Shanghai, a special tournament for the Serbian

“I remember that in 2007 was the first time I came to Shanghai for the Masters Cup. It was held here in 2007 and 2008 was the last year. I won it in 2008. Then, in 2009, the Shanghai Masters 1000 tournament started, and it has been held every year since then. It is undoubtedly one of the favorite tournaments for many players, including me. There is a willingness and also a need on the part of the organizers to respond to the demands of the players and their teams. Each year they try to improve something, to offer something better than the previous year, and to make players feel at home and have everything they need to perform at their best.”

The 4-time champ in the house 🤩 @DjokerNole #RolexShanghaiMasters https://t.co/DwAzXxH3Fn

— Rolex Shanghai Masters (@SH_RolexMasters) October 8, 2026

Happy to see Rune back

“I am very glad he is back. I like Holger and I also enjoy playing against him; we always have great battles. I saw the highlights of the match where he got injured and what happened was horrible to watch, honestly. I have been in contact with him a few times while he was out of the circuit. I followed his return and was very happy that he could come back in his country’s Davis Cup. It will take him some time; his injury is one of the worst you can have and has kept him out for nearly a year. He needs to play more matches, and I hope he finds his best tennis very soon.”

Djokovic advises Sinner about his injury

“I haven’t spoken to Jannik since he got injured. I saw the news two days ago and I will get in touch with him to see how he is. As someone who has suffered major injuries in his career, I know how difficult it is to make a comeback like that. If you are out of the circuit for so long, you have to deal with more things than you usually have to face, especially mentally. Physically, when you are prepared, you are ready, but then there is the mental part. You are on the court thinking: ‘Am I really fully recovered, and can I make this movement?’. I’m sure he and his team are making smart decisions. He has been the best player in the world and a dominant force over the last few years alongside Carlos. Tennis misses him, but at the same time, he needs to think long-term. I think that’s smart; it’s important to give yourself more years in your career so that you have more opportunities to achieve all your goals.”

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic le da un consejo a Sinner tras conocer el alcance de su lesión