Men’s top seed, Novak Djokovic, admitted on Sunday that with five titles from the last six editions of the ATP-WTA China Open, it is almost impossible to keep him away from the Asian hardcourt extravaganza.
The number one, had arrived in China after stopping off in Thailand for a quick million-euro payday at an exhibition where he beat Rafael Nadal.
He said, thereafter, that in spite of the emotional and physical drain of winning the U.S., Open last month, he could not stay away from one of his favourite ATP venues.
Djokovic will carry on in a week at the Shanghai Masters, where the Serb has won an additional three trophies in China.
“I’ve had lots of success in these two cities … the record that I have in these tournaments in China gives me a lot of obvious motivation to come back, a lot of great memories that I built my approach on for this year,’’ he said.
“The support I get here over the years with all the fans, the way they wait for me in front of the hotel and the club is something that I don’t experience really more or less anywhere,’’ he said.
“That’s one of the big reasons why I keep on coming back here and why I like to perform in China.’’
Djokovic has won seven titles this season and cannot be touched on the number one ranking, The 28-year-old won three of the four grand slams in 2015, beating Roger Federer in New York a month ago.
“I don’t like to say what my limits are,’’ Djokovic declared.
“I try to just be in the moment, use my imagination, and all of a sudden your possibilities become limitless,’’ he said on the eve of Monday’s start of men’s play at the joint ATP-WTA event.
He said that in spite of losing the French Open final to Stan Wawrinka, he probably could not have asked for a better season.
“Winning three out of four grand slams and playing another final is not a disappointment. It’s as good as it can get. One match more and it’s a perfect score.
“Somehow I feel like this one is even better (than his record-setting 2011 season). I have no reason to regret anything that happened this year. I feel like Roland Garros final was very emotional, but it happened for a reason.
“Because I have lost that match, I feel like I was even more eager to come back and play well on Grand Slams. I think this was a big part of my success in Wimbledon and U.S., Open.’’
