Novak Djokovic, Olga Danilovic ring in 2024 with Perth fans after United Cup win
The ATP world No. 1 won his season debut in singles, then joined forces with his teammate to clinch a decisive mixed doubles clash over China.
On Saturday, Novak Djokovic playfully crashed Team China’s presser at the United Cup after Zheng Qinwen and Zhizhen Zhang swept the Czech Republic.
“Thank you, all,” chimed in Djokovic from behind the media conference platform.
“Idol!” responded a beaming Zheng as her partner could only chuckle. “Please don’t go. I haven’t got your signature yet!”
A day later, Djokovic turned those smiles upside down as 2023 came to an end in Perth.
The world No. 1 dismissed Zhang, 6-3, 6-2 holding serve the entire way through in his 2024 season debut. And though Olga Danilovic went down to the WTA world No. 15 by a 6-4, 6-2 scoreline, she joined forces with her hero to win a decisive mixed doubles contest, 6-4, 1-6 [10-6], just minutes before the clock struck midnight on New Year's Eve.
“This was on my No. 1 bucket list, to play with Novak and win,” a proud Danilovic told Catherine Whitaker courtside.
Djokovic then had a question for the fans in attendance.
“How about if we celebrate the New Year together?” he asked to roaring approval. “You stay a few minutes. We have a DJ.”
Katy Perry’s “Firework” got the vibe going inside RAC Arena until the 10-second mark. From there, the entire Serbian squad then led the countdown to ring in 2024.
Djokovic and Danilovic will return January 2 to face the Czechs, controlling their own destiny to the quarterfinals of the mixed-gender team event.