Djokovic returns to China Open after 11 years

The 2026 China Open is punching above its weight after the tournament confirmed on Monday that 24-time major champion Novak Djokovic is set to end his 11-year Beijing hiatus by signing up to play the ATP 500 event.

As Asia's biggest men's and women's combined event, the China Open traditionally boasts the most elite women's roster for its top-flight WTA 1000 tournament, while the men's 500-category competition sometimes lacks the same star power, especially compared to the prestigious ATP 1000 Masters in Shanghai.

The confirmed return of Djokovic, who just ended his 20th US Open main-draw campaign with a disappointing first-round upset loss to Argentine youngster Mariano Navone, will build on an already star-studded roster that includes Italy's defending champion and world No 1 Jannik Sinner, who has skipped the US Open to heal a knee injury.

They will be joined by five other top-10 stars, such as German world No 2 Alexander Zverev, Canada's fourth-ranked Felix Auger-Aliassime and Sinner's compatriot, sixth-ranked Flavio Cobolli, in a talent-packed field at Beijing's National Tennis Center from Sept 30-Oct 6.

The highly-anticipated return of the Serbian great to the Chinese capital, following his last appearance in 2015, has sparked excitement among the ranks of his vast "Nole-Fam" fan base in China, where the 39-year-old legend often enjoys "home-court" levels of support every time he plays a tournament in the country.

After leaving the season's final major in New York mentally low and following apparent physical struggles, Djokovic is very much in need of an energy boost to finish the season strongly, and there is no better place for a recharge than in Beijing, one of his most celebrated destinations on the ATP Tour.

Since his first appearance at the tournament in 2009, Djokovic has won all his 29 matches in Beijing, sweeping six titles through 2015, skipping only the 2011 edition due to injury.

As unlikely it might seem now that he'll be able to maintain his perfect record, Djokovic is expected to enjoy connecting with his loyal Chinese fans, as well as showing up at commercial events for sponsors in the huge Chinese market, than going all-out for a 500-level title toward the end of a glittering career that boasts a men's record 24 Grand Slam singles titles and 40 ATP 1000 trophies.

"It feels great. I've missed it. It's been a while since I last came to, honestly, one of the happiest places I've had in my career; a country where I've had plenty of success on the tennis court, won many titles (and have) great memories," Djokovic said when he last played in China at the 2024 Rolex Shanghai Masters.

Queen holds court

Despite a shock early exit for their beloved Serbian star, Chinese fans still have their own homegrown heroine to root for in Flushing Meadows, after reigning Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen rallied back from one set down to beat Russian teen prospect Kristina Liutova 4-6, 6-3, 6-1 in her main-draw opener on Monday, setting up a second-round meeting with the winner of the clash between 12th seed Belinda Bencic and Yulia Putintseva on Wednesday.

Having dropped to No 121 this week after a lengthy injury layoff, Zheng, who reached a career-high ranking of No 4 in June 2025, had to win three qualifying rounds at this year's US Open to make it into the main draw.

Her much-improved first-serve percentage, consistency of groundstrokes and composure, underlined during the tough two-hour-and-28-minute comeback win over Liutova, bodes well for the 23-year-old's prospects of a deep run again in New York, where she reached quarterfinals twice in 2023 and 2024.

"I feel like I've regained my best form (and) the burning fire inside me, during the qualifiers and the later stage of today's match," Zheng said. "I hope I can carry on this aggressive momentum and keep advancing."