Djokovic Confident Body Is Responding Ahead of China Open Return

Novak Djokovic has offered an encouraging assessment of his physical condition as he prepares to end a month-long absence from competitive tennis at the China Open in Beijing. Speaking to reporters on Monday, the 24-time Grand Slam champion said his body had reacted well to training, easing some of the concerns that followed his dramatic first-round exit at the US Open in late August. "Yeah, feeling good so far," Djokovic said, striking an optimistic tone ahead of his opening match.

The 39-year-old Serbian star has not played since August 30, when he was beaten in straight sets by Argentina's Mariano Navone at Flushing Meadows. That match became a troubling spectacle as Djokovic visibly struggled with shoulder and back problems and vomited midway through the contest. It was one of the most jarring defeats of his decorated career, and it immediately raised questions about how much longer he could withstand the physical demands of elite tennis.

Djokovic will step back onto the court on Wednesday when he faces Portugal's Nuno Borges in the first round in Beijing. He acknowledged that practice sessions and practice sets cannot replicate the intensity of an official match, but insisted the early signs are positive. "Obviously it's completely different when you're playing an official match compared to practice sets or practice sessions," he said. "So far so good."

Beijing has historically been one of Djokovic's most productive stops on the professional tour. He is a six-time champion at the ATP 500 event, having claimed the title in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. Perhaps even more remarkably, he holds a perfect 29-0 win-loss record at the tournament, a statistic that underscores just how comfortable he has traditionally felt on Chinese hard courts.

That history, Djokovic suggested, provides a psychological boost that he badly needs at this stage of his career. "My record speaks for itself on Chinese soil," he said. "Knowing that, it also brings this dimension of confidence that I really need." For a player who has spent nearly two decades at the top of the sport, the familiarity of a venue where he has never lost a match could prove just as valuable as any technical adjustment.

The former world number one also made clear that his decision to return to Beijing was deliberate rather than incidental. He has not competed at the China Open in 11 years, largely because scheduling conflicts meant he played only in Shanghai during recent trips to the region. "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," Djokovic explained. "This year, Beijing was on the priority list."

Djokovic's willingness to prioritize a tournament he last won more than a decade ago reflects the broader philosophy he has adopted in the twilight of his career. Now ranked 11th in the world, he has become increasingly selective about where and when he plays, preferring events that offer both competitive value and personal enjoyment. "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," he said.

The welcome he receives in China is not in doubt. Djokovic remains a massive draw in Beijing, where crowds have long appreciated his attacking style and his willingness to engage with spectators. That reception stands in contrast to some of the more complicated crowd dynamics he has encountered at other tournaments in recent years, and it may help explain why he regards the China Open as a genuinely appealing destination rather than merely a logistical convenience.

For all his achievements, Djokovic still has at least one significant target remaining: a record-extending 25th Grand Slam singles title. He currently shares the all-time mark of 24 with Margaret Court, and every major tournament he enters from now on carries the weight of that pursuit. His recent Grand Slam results, however, have been uneven, and his physical resilience has become an increasingly central question for observers and rivals alike.

The US Open defeat was especially alarming because of how visibly it affected him. Vomiting during a match is rare at the highest level, and combined with shoulder and back trouble, it painted a picture of a body struggling to cope with the demands of five-set tennis. Djokovic has not disclosed the precise nature of those issues, but his cautious optimism in Beijing suggests he and his team believe the worst of the problem has passed.

Nuno Borges represents a measured but meaningful test for Djokovic's first match back. The Portuguese player is a capable hard-court competitor who will be eager to capitalize on any lingering rust or hesitation. A straightforward victory would give Djokovic valuable match sharpness and confirm that his body can withstand the rigors of tournament play, while a tight contest could leave lingering doubts ahead of the season's final stretch.

Beyond the immediate result, the China Open serves as a gauge for how Djokovic intends to manage the remainder of his career. His schedule has already contracted, and each appearance now carries added significance. A strong showing in Beijing would not only extend his perfect record there but also strengthen his case for entering the bigger events with genuine title ambitions rather than merely participating.

Djokovic's remarks also hint at the emotional dimension of his late-career choices. Having achieved virtually everything the sport has to offer, he now speaks of tournaments in terms of enjoyment, comfort and appreciation. That shift does not mean his competitive fire has dimmed, but it does suggest that the venues and atmospheres he chooses can influence his performance as much as his training and tactics.

The coming days in Beijing will therefore be about more than one first-round match. They will offer the first real evidence of whether Djokovic's body can support his ambitions, whether his love for Chinese courts can translate into another deep run, and whether the 39-year-old still has the durability to challenge for the sport's biggest prizes. For now, his own verdict remains cautiously upbeat, and that alone represents a small but important victory after a painful summer.