Novak Djokovic, the 23-time Grand Slam champion and world number one, showed off his playful side at the Arthur Ashe Kids' Day powered by Net Generation on Saturday, August 26. The Serbian star wore a Lacoste polo shirt and shorts and traded his tennis racquet for a frying pan in a fun exhibition match with fellow pros Coco Gauff, Carlos Alcaraz, and Ben Shelton.
The event, which celebrates the life and legacy of tennis and cultural icon Arthur Ashe, features a variety of entertainment and activities for tennis fans of all ages at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center. Djokovic, who is aiming to complete the calendar Grand Slam and break the men's record for most major titles at the US Open, said he was happy to participate in the event and inspire the next generation of players.
"I love being here. I love being part of this event. It's always a lot of fun and a lot of energy", Djokovic said. I think it's very important to promote tennis to kids and to show them that tennis is not only a sport but also a way of life, a way of having fun, a way of expressing yourself".
Djokovic also praised his young opponents, Gauff, Alcaraz and Shelton, who are all rising stars in the sport Gauff, 18, is the youngest player in the Top 50 of the WTA rankings and has reached the quarterfinals of two Grand Slams this year. Alcaraz, 20, is the youngest player in the Top 10 of the ATP rankings and has won two Grand Slams this year. Shelton, 21, is a former NCAA champion and has reached the third round of Wimbledon this year.
"They are all amazing players and amazing people. I have a lot of respect for them. They are the future of the tennis", Djokovic said. "They have a lot of talent and a lot of passion. They work hard and they deserve to be here".
The exhibition match was played with some unconventional rules, such as using frying pans instead of racquets, playing with oversized balls, and having random objects thrown onto the court. The match was of full of laughter and cheers from the crowd, who enjoyed watching the players have fun and show off their skills.
The Arthur Ashe Kids' Day Center Stage also featured live performances by pop duo Crash Adams and K-Pop artist AleXa along with Disney Channel's Issac Ryan Brown and Danielle Jalade, TikTok superstar McKenzi Brooke and Reif Harrison, player appearances, interactive programming, DJ MODE and more. The event was free and open to the public and was part of the US Open Fan Week, which runs from August 22 to August 27.
