Novak Djokovic says his body is feeling good as he prepares to return to competition at the China Open in Beijing, a tournament where he has never lost a match.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion, now 39, has not played since an opening-round defeat at the US Open, where he struggled with shoulder and back problems and was sick on court.
“Yeah, feeling good so far,” Djokovic said, according to Reuters. “Obviously it’s completely different when you’re playing an official match compared to practice sets.”
“Overall, it’s been really good so far with the body, the way I’m feeling and playing,” he told the ATP Tour website.
A perfect record in Beijing
Few players have dominated a tournament the way Djokovic has dominated the China Open:
| Djokovic at the China Open | |
|---|---|
| Titles | 6 (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015) |
| Win-loss record | 29-0 |
| Last appearance | 11 years ago |
He has never lost a match at the event, winning all 29 he has played, and he has not played there since his last title in 2015.
First match
Djokovic, currently ranked 11th in the world, faces Nuno Borges of Portugal in the first round. The China Open is an ATP 500 event, one level below the Masters 1000 tournaments.
A difficult US Open
His last match was a painful one. At the US Open in New York, Djokovic lost in the first round to Argentina’s Mariano Navone while dealing with shoulder and back problems, and was sick on court during the match.
His decision to play in Beijing is his first step back since that defeat.
Choosing his tournaments carefully
Now in the late stages of a record-breaking career, Djokovic has become increasingly selective about which tournaments he plays, focusing his energy on the events that matter most to him. His main goal remains a 25th Grand Slam title, which would extend his record for the most major singles titles in men’s tennis.
Beijing offers him a place where he has always been at his best, and a chance to test his body in official matches before the end of the season. He is chasing the 102nd title of his career and his first of 2026; his best result this year was a defeat by Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open final, according to the ATP.
He also paid tribute to his fans in China. “My NoleFam here in China has been incredible, both Beijing and Shanghai, over the years. They definitely are the highlight,” he said.
In other sports news
Pakistan’s cricketers are waiting for their Asian Games semi-final against Bangladesh on Thursday, after rain washed out every quarter-final in Nagoya.
What to watch for
The key question in Beijing will be how Djokovic’s body holds up over consecutive matches. He has said himself that practice is very different from official competition, and the first round against Borges will give the first real answer.
Why it matters
Djokovic is one of the greatest players in the history of tennis, and every return from injury is watched closely. A strong run in Beijing, where he has never lost, would show that at 39 he can still compete at a high level and keep his hopes of a 25th Grand Slam alive.
This article draws on reporting by Reuters, the ATP Tour and Dawn.
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