Jimmy Robertson Says He Bottled Chance For Novak Djokovic Selfie

Snooker professional Jimmy Robertson revealed that he twice missed the opportunity to ask tennis star Novak Djokovic for a selfie during a chance encounter at a Chinese airport. The 40-year-old East Sussex cueist bumped into the 24-time Grand Slam singles champion while traveling through Beijing for the Shenzhen Open.

Missed Encounters at Beijing Capital Airport

Robertson was en route to the Shenzhen Open, where he reached the semi-finals before losing 6-5 to Yuan Sijun, when he spotted Djokovic waiting in line at passport control. The World No. 40 admitted that anxiety got the better of him during the initial sighting.

I stopped off at Beijing to go through passport control and Novak Djokovic was right in front of me in the queue. I got nervous and bottled asking him for a photo. He was right in front of me. It was crazy. An all-time great.

Jimmy Robertson

The pair cleared passport control separately before boarding the same internal terminal shuttle. Robertson spotted the 39-year-old Serbian player at the front of the vehicle but failed to approach him a second time.

He was at the front of the shuttle, got off and I thought: ‘Right, I’ll catch up with him’. I did but I still didn’t ask him! I bottled it again. I’ll never get that opportunity again. He’s just gone on to win the China Open in Beijing.

Jimmy Robertson

Shenzhen Open Semi-Final Exit for Robertson

While Djokovic traveled to Beijing to capture another tournament victory, Robertson focused on his deep run at the Shenzhen Open. The English cueist came within one frame of reaching the final before dropping a narrow 6-5 decision to China’s Yuan Sijun. Despite the semi-final loss, Robertson’s journey in the tournament delivered an unforgettable off-table moment with one of tennis’s most decorated champions.