It has been quite a delight for fans to watch Novak Djokovic return to the Shanghai Masters this season. After a five-year gap, the Serbian star seeks his 100th ATP title. He is currently basking in the affection of his Chinese fanbase. As they get creative in showcasing their support, the fans showered him and his family with gifts. And as a sort of joke to the surplus of love he received, Djokovic remarked, “We’re looking for extra suitcases to come back.”

Wrapping up his fourth match at the Shanghai Masters, in which he beat Roman Safiullin 6-3 6-2. Djokovic has secured his spot in the quarter-finals for the tenth time in this prestigious tournament. He showed his best skills by saving three break points during the set but making good use of all the chances granted by Safiullin, with the first set featuring an early break in favor of Djokovic.

In a post-match interview, Djokovic reflected on this warm reception. “Many, many gifts! My children got a lot of gifts from the fans, the Nolefam here in China. I’m extremely grateful for that; I’m eternally grateful for their love,” he shared.

It’s a nice gesture from the fandom since Novak generally keeps his kids out of sight. Although his daughter Tara occasionally appears during matches, his son Stefan is rarely on the camera. The couple deliberately decided to keep their children out of the public eye as much as possible when they were born.

However, because of fan curiosity, Djokovic addressed it during a press conference for the Shanghai Masters, stating, “We didn’t share the photos of Stefan for a long time. We started showing pictures but not his face because of his own sake, his own protection. Everybody is different. Obviously, our view is that we don’t want him to be exposed at this stage of his life. He’s only a baby.”

Right now, Nole is gearing up to face Jakub Mensik in the quarter-finals of the Shanghai Masters. The anticipation is high, as he’s on the verge of claiming his 100th title. And although he’s excited about this milestone, he acknowledges the emotional toll of being away from his family during such an intense tournament.

Novak Djokovic struggles with family separation while competing globally

Djokovic’s family has always been his rock. Whether it’s his wife Jelena and their kids cheering him on from the stands at the Davis Cup or his heartfelt Instagram posts thanking them after big wins, they’re together through thick and thin. And fans adore him for being a family man.

During a press conference, Djokovic shared that he often misses his family while on the road, particularly as he navigates the demanding tennis circuit. He expressed that being away from his wife Jelena and their two children, Stefan and Tara, weighs heavily on him.

“I miss my family when I’m on the road, and at the same time I love tennis, I really do, and I have support from my closest ones to keep going, to keep playing,” he said.

As he chases more titles, Novak Djokovic aims to plaster off his tennis legacy. We know that his family is always in his heart. With each match, he hopes to return a champion to his wife and kids, celebrating their unwavering support. Perhaps this time will be another wholesome moment for them as he aims for the 100th title.