Djokovic even had to improvise with his language skills, telling fans "Bu Yao Ji!" in Mandarin, meaning "Don't push!", when he signed autographs for them upon his arrival at his Shanghai hotel earlier last week.

Some of his most diehard fans, according to posts on Chinese social media, had waited at the tennis center's main entrance since 4 am on Friday just to get the best seats at the training court that would host Djokovic's afternoon practice.

His appearances at commercial events for sponsors, first in Beijing last week, and then in Shanghai, had to be kept confidential, due to security concerns over the exceptionally high demand from fans.

Believe it or not, the 24-time major winner's surreal popularity in China is real.

And it has been a gift that goes both ways.