As part of his routine from his previous appearances in Shanghai, Djokovic tried to write one character of his Chinese name on the broadcasting camera after Saturday's win, showing enough respect to the country's culture, despite missing two pen strokes.

"It's not an easy language to master, and I haven't practiced much in the last five years... Hopefully, as the tournament progresses, both my tennis and my Chinese will improve," said Djokovic.

Djokovic is the only player to win all nine ATP Masters 1000 tournaments since the premier series started in 1990, en route to collecting a record haul of 40 titles at this level.

He won Masters 1000 titles in Cincinnati and Paris last year, and collected a record eighth Nitto ATP Finals crown.

However, he is yet to reach a Masters final in the series this year.

In 2024 he has won just one tournament, and perhaps his most-desired at this late stage of his stellar career — the Paris Olympics.

"It was just something unique, remarkable, unforgettable. It's something I'll carry in my heart and my memories for the rest of my life," Djokovic said of realizing his long-cherished dream of Olympic gold.

"It is the highlight of my career ... The most intense emotions I have ever felt on court came after winning the gold medal."

sunxiaochen@chinadaily.com.cn