Novak Djokovic Eyes Triumphant Return at China Open Following Fitness Struggles

Novak Djokovic has not competed since his shock first-round loss at the US Open last month. The 24-time tennis Grand Slam champion says he is encouraged by the way his body has responded ahead of the China Open as he looks to regain momentum at a venue where he has enjoyed great success following recent fitness concerns.

“Yeah, feeling good so far,” Novak Djokovic, a six-time China Open champion, said on Monday.

Novak Djokovic will return to action for the first time since his shock opening-round defeat by Mariano Navone at the US Open on August 30, when he struggled with shoulder and back problems and vomited midway through the match. The world number 11 will look to put those problems behind him when he takes on Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the first round in Beijing this week.

“Obviously it’s completely different when you’re playing an official match compared to practice sets or practice sessions,” he said before his opening game on Wednesday. “So far so good. I was looking forward to coming to China, as I always have. My record speaks for itself on Chinese soil. Knowing that, it also brings this dimension of confidence that I really need. Overall, it’s been really good so far with the body, the way I’m feeling and playing.”

The former world number one is a massive draw in Beijing, where he won the title in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and holds a 29-0 win-loss record at the ATP 500 tournament. The pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title remains one of the few major targets left for Novak Djokovic, who has become increasingly selective about his tournament schedule in recent years.

“At this stage of my career, it’s really also about the tournaments where I enjoy to play, where I’ve had the success in the past, where I feel like I’m also welcomed by the fans in a positive light, in a positive way,” Novak Djokovic said. “The history of my results on Chinese soil has been incredible. I haven’t played here in 11 years. I was trying to make it work in the past years with the schedule, but it worked in such a way where I played only Shanghai. This year, Beijing was on the priority list.”