Novak Djokovic is coming back to the China Open, and he is doing it after losing in the first round of the US Open. The 39-year-old announced on Wednesday that he will compete in Beijing from September 30 through October 6, live on Sky Sports. It will be his first appearance at the event since 2015, which means he is returning after an 11-year absence.
The timing is unusual, to say the least. Djokovic recently dropped as low as No. 12 in the world rankings after being beaten by Argentina’s Mariano Navone in the first round of the US Open. That defeat came after a third-round exit at the French Open in May, with two poor Grand Slam performances bookending a run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon, where he was beaten in straight sets by eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic has not won a Grand Slam title since 2023, going three full calendar years without success. He is a six-time winner of the ATP 500 event in Beijing, where he last played in 2015. Sinner won the title last year, but he is currently out with a knee injury.
The Loss To Navone
The defeat to Navone was notable for another reason. It marked the first time Djokovic had lost an opening round contest at a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.
Djokovic did not wait long to respond publicly. On an Instagram story on Wednesday, he addressed the upcoming trip to Beijing directly.
“I am excited to come back and perform in front of all of you at the National Tennis Centre – one of the nicest venues we have in tennis,” Djokovic said.
Raducanu Withdraws From China Open
The same day brought news that Britain’s Emma Raducanu has pulled out of this month’s China Open. Raducanu has not played since losing the Queen’s Club final in June, missing Wimbledon and the US Open due to a stress fracture in her leg.
The 23-year-old has returned to training after sharing video footage last week of herself at London’s National Tennis Centre. She could return at the Wuhan Open on October 12, live on Sky Sports.
The Schedule
Here is how the upcoming events break down:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| US Open | Just concluded |
| Laver Cup at The O2, London | 25-27 September |
| China Open, Beijing | 30 September–6 October |
| Wuhan Open | 12 October |
The schedule is dense, and Djokovic will need to manage his time carefully. He is already ranked outside the top 10.
What This Means For Djokovic
Djokovic’s decision to play in Beijing is notable because of how recently things went wrong for him. Losing in the first round of the US Open is a rare occurrence for a player of his stature, and dropping to No. 12 in the rankings is a sharp fall for someone who has spent most of his career near the top.
The move also carries meaning. Djokovic is returning to an event he has not played in over a decade, and he is doing it after a run of results that has tested him.
The China Open is a significant event, and his return after more than a decade away carries weight.
The Return To Beijing
Djokovic has faced his share of setbacks in recent months. The US Open loss to Navone followed a third-round exit at the French Open, and his run to the semi-finals at Wimbledon ended with a straight-sets defeat to Jannik Sinner. He has not won a Grand Slam title since 2023, going three full calendar years without success.
His willingness to keep playing is worth noting. He is still ranked outside the top 10, and he is still finding ways to compete.
The China Open begins on September 30. All eyes will be on Beijing to see how he performs.
See the video the story is built around at Skysports.
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