WATCH: Novak Djokovic & Justin Bieber table tennis exchange goes viral at Fanatics Fest
(Courtesy : Getty Images)
Novak Djokovic continues to meet high-profile celebrities during his time in New York.
Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic turned his New York week into something far beyond a documentary premiere. The 39-year-old was the unlikely star of Fanatics Fest at the Javits Center, and it was a table tennis match against Justin Bieber that caught the attention of social media.
The two went head-to-head at the four-day festival, which ran from July 16 to 19 and brought together thousands of sports and entertainment figures in the lead-up to the FIFA World Cup final.
Djokovic won the match, though not without a fight from the Canadian pop star, who refused to accept defeat graciously. “I’m the superior ping pong player, but he got me today,” Bieber told the crowd.
“Excuses, excuses,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion said, grinning as the exchange quickly went viral on social media.
The table tennis was far from the only moment that caught attention. Djokovic, Bieber and Tom Brady also went head to head in a UFC striking challenge alongside each other, testing their punching power on the force measurement pads set up by the UFC at the event.
The Serbian then stepped to a basketball court and calmly drained three consecutive shots from beyond the three-point line, showing off his skills beyond tennis.
Logan Paul added his own layer to the occasion. The WWE star was part of ESPN’s live First Take recording at Fanatics Fest, which took place the same morning, sitting alongside Stephen A.
It was the kind of week that reminded people exactly how vast Djokovic’s reach is. He also sat down for a main stage interview with Lionel Messi and recorded an episode of Kevin Hart’s Cold As Balls podcast alongside Zlatan Ibrahimovic.
Djokovic is currently enjoying his time away from tennis and is expected to return to action during the Cincinnati Open, which begins on August 11.
When will Novak Djokovic return to tennis action?
Djokovic is currently on the entry list for the National Bank Open in Montreal, where he is expected to use the Masters 1000 event as a warm-up for the US Open in late August.
When will Novak Djokovic’s documentary series premiere?
Djokovic’s documentary series will premiere exclusively on Prime Video on August 20.
How did Novak Djokovic surprise fans at Fanatics Fest?
Djokovic entered the WWE stage wearing a wolf mask.
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Aniruddh Seshadri Iyer is a passionate sports journalist at Khel Now, specializing in tennis and Olympic sports. An engineer by training, he found his storytelling passion through iconic Grand Slam and Olympic moments. Known for sharp analysis and insightful coverage, he draws inspiration from Novak Djokovic’s resilience. Outside journalism, he enjoys reading, traveling, and playing the guitar.