In a column for TNT Sports, snooker professional Jimmy Robertson revealed he missed two separate opportunities to request a photograph with Novak Djokovic while traveling through Beijing to the Shenzhen Open, an encounter he later described as an all-time great experience where he simply froze.
The Beijing Passport Control Queue
The initial sighting happened unexpectedly at a busy airport checkpoint during the transit journey. According to TNT Sports, Robertson found himself standing directly behind the 24-time Grand Slam champion while waiting to clear passport control.
He was right in front of me. It was crazy. An all-time great."
A Second Chance on the Terminal Shuttle Bus
After clearing passport control, both players headed toward the terminal transport.
"He went through passport control and then I did. I did but I still didn’t ask him! I bottled it again. I’ll never get that opportunity again."
Parallel Campaigns Across China
The chance encounters occurred as both athletes traveled independently to separate tournaments in China. While Djokovic prepared for the China Open, Robertson was en route to the Shenzhen Open, where he ultimately reached the semi-finals before losing a close match to Yuan Sijun.
While Djokovic advanced to claim the China Open title—benefiting from final-round and second-set withdrawals by opponents Alex De Minaur and Daniil Medvedev—Robertson suffered a painful defeat in the penultimate round of the Shenzhen Open. The 40-year-old cueist lost 6-5 to Chinese competitor Yuan Sijun after coming within a single frame of the final.
The Weight of a Semi-Final Exit
Reflecting on the narrow loss after returning home, Robertson told TNT Sports that the outcome left a deep psychological mark after two decades on the professional circuit.
"I’ll be honest. It was one of the worst feelings I’ve had as a professional," Robertson said. "I’ve played on the tour for 20 odd years. It was a massive game in a big tournament, and it really hurt. The way the decider was, I felt like I had a foot in the final."
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