Today marks Djokovic's debut at the Shanghai Masters; how much did the organizers pay this legend to appear?

Djokovic’s arrival in China caused a huge sensation, truly showcasing the charm of this "son of China." Compared to fans who were visibly overjoyed seeing the Serbian star, many were more curious about how much the Shanghai event organizers paid him to secure his participation.

Before Djokovic’s participation was confirmed, many thought the Serbian star had no chance of competing in this year’s Shanghai Masters. The reason being, the veteran had clearly expressed his desire to spend more time with family and focus on his health at 38, prioritizing Grand Slam tournaments to chase his 25th major title. Moreover, Djokovic had subtly indicated little interest in big events like the ATP Finals, so attending the Shanghai Masters seemed unlikely.

However, when Djokovic personally announced his participation and the Shanghai Masters organizers confirmed the Serbian star would definitely compete, many couldn’t believe their eyes, calling it unbelievable that the organizers managed to bring in such a hard-to-convince Djokovic, who seemingly broke his promise to spend more time with family.

Therefore, many speculated that the organizers must have paid an exorbitant appearance fee to persuade Djokovic, otherwise why would the Serbian ace travel all the way to China to compete?

"Djokovic’s team proactively expressed the desire to participate; the organizers did not pay any appearance fee," said Yang Yibin, chairman of the Shanghai Masters organizer Jiushe Sports, sparking a media frenzy. It was hard to believe Djokovic agreed to join this year’s Shanghai Masters for free.

But since the event organizer’s boss said so, there’s little room for doubt. Especially as related media indirectly confirmed that Djokovic came because of his deep feelings for Shanghai and China, making Yang Yibin’s statement even more credible.

Djokovic’s specially prepared Chinese red outfit for this year’s Shanghai Masters further proves this point: a player with profound affection for China, regarded by fans and netizens as a "son of China," would hardly put money above everything else when deciding to compete—it would be too shallow.

Shanghai has always held a special place in Djokovic’s fond memories, as his first Masters title in his career was won here.

“That trophy was my most important honor at the time; that victory made me ecstatic.” Whenever Djokovic recalls Shanghai, his 2008 championship is always a must-mention story, showing how much the city means to him.

Regarding Djokovic’s participation in this Shanghai Masters, it is indeed true that no appearance fee was paid, as confirmed soon after by the Serbian star himself.

“In China, whether Beijing or Shanghai, the support I receive has never stopped; the enthusiasm is incredible. I love coming back here to play in front of fans who always give me energy and a passionate atmosphere.” For Djokovic, playing where he feels a sense of belonging surpasses anything else, including money. Fans and netizens naturally don’t care about appearance fees, especially since the Serbian star is wealthy and wouldn’t bother with such trivial sums.

Some bluntly say that if Djokovic didn’t have a special bond with China and Shanghai beyond other places, even a billion-yuan appearance fee from the Shanghai Masters organizers wouldn’t have convinced him to come. "This is the difference between home and away, between being half an owner and just a visitor."

Thus, when the Shanghai Masters extended a sincere invitation betting on Djokovic’s affection for China and Shanghai, it hit the mark perfectly, striking the softest spot in the Serbian star’s heart. So it became natural for him to give up everything and compete without any appearance fee at this Masters event.

“This is the biggest reason I insisted on playing in Shanghai. I feel very comfortable competing here, like being at home. Besides my homeland, Shanghai is where I receive the most support globally.” Djokovic’s words immediately gained massive praise, with many saying he truly deserves the title "son of China," and that all the years of support and love from fans were well deserved.

Additionally, the decision by the Shanghai Masters organizers has been widely praised. If they had given up after Djokovic expressed disinterest in the tour, the sudden withdrawal of Alcaraz might have impacted the event’s attention and ticket sales. Now with Djokovic participating, all worries are gone.

Today, Djokovic officially kicks off his China season at the Shanghai Masters, facing former US Open champion Cilic around 6:30 PM—definitely a match to watch!(Source: Tennis Home, Author: Moon River’s Starry Sky)