WATCH: Djokovic arrives in Japan for Tokyo debut

Fully recovered from his left shoulder injury that forced him to withdraw against Stan Wawrinka at the US Open, Novak Djokovic has landed in Asia.

But this time, it’s Tokyo, and not Beijing, where Djokovic will begin the home stretch of the grueling ATP season.

The world No. 1 has never played this event before, but judging by his Japanese, and his Mickey Mouse shirt, he has arrived in good spirits and is the clear-cut favorite to win the title.

Perhaps Djokovic needed a new challenge, a new tournament to conquer. After amassing a 29-0 record and six singles titles in Beijing the Serbian will certainly get a different experience.

Maybe Rakuten, the Japan Open’s title sponsor, made an offer so sweet he could not refuse. Either way, the field in Beijing has to be thrilled to have the world No. 1 over n Japan for a change.

Djokovic hit the practice courts with Japanese No. 3 Taro Daniel. The American-born Japanese player is one of the few active players to hold a winning record over the 16-time major champion— Daniel beat him in three sets at Indian Wells in 2018 in one of the more shocking upsets of Djokovic’s career.

Djokovic will attempt to join the rest of the Big Four—Federer (2006, Nadal (2010), and Murray (2011)— as champions in Tokyo.