Social

Novak Djokovic, Olga Danilovic ring in 2024 with Perth fans after United Cup win

By Baseline Staff Dec 31, 2023
Social

'Reputation'? Try again: Iga Swiatek is in her 'faster hard courts' era

By Baseline Staff Jan 22, 2025
Social

Lyudmyla Kichenok, Kristina Mladenovic spar about sportsmanship in Australian Open doubles spat

By Baseline Staff Jan 22, 2025
Social

Novak Djokovic says his Australian Open win over Carlos Alcaraz was just as 'huge' for Andy Murray

By Baseline Staff Jan 21, 2025
Social

Quote of the Day: Coco Gauff shrugs off "internet coaches" after Australian Open exit

By Baseline Staff Jan 21, 2025
Social

WATCH: Alexander Zverev complains when a feather delays play at the Australian Open

By Associated Press Jan 21, 2025
Social

Erin Routliffe left stunned that Australian Open has 'robots everywhere,' except for making this key decision

By Baseline Staff Jan 20, 2025
Social

Alex de Minaur jokes that every Australian Open win adds to his and Katie Boulter's wedding budget

By Baseline Staff Jan 20, 2025
Social

Nick Kyrgios, Elliot Loney turn Novak Djokovic into rogue presenter with fake news skit targeting Tony Jones

By Baseline Staff Jan 20, 2025
Social

WATCH: There's a screw loose at Australian Open, as Sinner's win over Rune interrupted by net problem

By Associated Press Jan 20, 2025
Social

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.

ByBaseline Staff

Published Dec 31, 2023

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!”

Advertising

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.

Could we see Danilovic and Djokovic at the Paris Olympics later this year?

Could we see Danilovic and Djokovic at the Paris Olympics later this year?

© AP

Advertising

“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.