New Delhi, September 16, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Serbian tennis great Novak Djokovic has confirmed his return to Beijing for the China Open, marking his first appearance at the ATP 500 tournament in 11 years.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion announced his return on social media on Wednesday, sharing a message in both Chinese and English and expressing his excitement about returning to a city where he enjoyed considerable success earlier in his career.
“I am very happy to announce that I’m coming back to Beijing after many years to play at the China Open. I’m so excited to be back and to perform in front of you all at the National Tennis Centre, one of the nicest venues in tennis, a place where I have incredible memories and great successes throughout my career. I want to thank all the Chinese fans for their years-long love and support,” Djokovic said in a video shared on Instagram.
Djokovic last competed at the China Open in 2015. He had previously made six appearances at the tournament between 2009 and 2015.
The 39-year-old will return to the Chinese capital following a disappointing campaign at the recently concluded US Open, where he suffered a first-round defeat to Argentina’s Mariano Navone.
Navone defeated fourth-seeded Djokovic 7-6(5), 5-7, 4-6, 6-2, 6-1 in a four-hour, 36-minute battle at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York.
The loss marked Djokovic’s first opening-round defeat at a Grand Slam since 2006.
Djokovic made a strong start against Navone but struggled physically as the contest progressed, particularly during the final two sets.
After the defeat, Djokovic described his experience on court as “an awful feeling” and said he had been dealing with physical problems during matches throughout the season.
“I think it was obvious that it was an awful feeling on the court for me. It’s something that I’ve been carrying, unfortunately, pretty much every match this year. Vomiting, throwing up – a serious issue there. Then my whole body starts to collapse, basically cramping and in pain,” Djokovic said after the match, as quoted by the ATP.
“Yeah, the back just gave up in the end and the shoulder, and I couldn’t close it out,” he added.
The US Open defeat also saw Djokovic fall out of the ATP top 10 for the first time in several years. He is currently ranked No. 12 in the world.
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