Djokovic Returns to China Open After 11 Years

Novak Djokovic is back at the China Open in Beijing after 11 years away from the Chinese capital. The tennis player arrives at the ATP 500 with a history of 29 consecutive victories at the event and the clear intention of seeking another trophy.

Motivation to Play in Beijing

In a press conference, the Serb explained that at this stage of his career, he chooses tournaments where he feels good, where he has already had success, and where he receives positive support from fans. He highlighted the affection of the Chinese "NoleFam" as one of the main reasons for his return.

Undefeated Record at the Tournament

Djokovic has never lost at the China Open, accumulating 29 consecutive victories and six titles between 2009 and 2015. His dominance also includes the record for most titles at the Rolex Shanghai Masters, with four triumphs between 2012 and 2018.

First Opponent: Nuno Borges

In the first round, the Serb will face Portugal's Nuno Borges, world number 49 in the ATP rankings. Borges has 26 wins and 24 losses in 2026 and reached an ATP 250 semifinal in Mallorca. The only time they met was in Athens in 2025, with Djokovic winning.

Goal of Victory

Djokovic stated that he is not in Beijing just to enjoy the crowd; his main motivation is to compete and win. He wants to advance as far as possible in the tournament, leveraging the confidence from his positive history on Chinese soil.

Season Outlook

With an early defeat at the US Open, the Serb gained a longer period of physical and mental recovery before arriving in Beijing. A good performance could boost his confidence to pursue a 25th Grand Slam title and remain among the top names in world tennis.

With information from China Daily, Puntodebreak.