Djokovic lands in Beijing with a clear message: "I cannot settle"

Novak Djokovic wants to turn the page on his experiences during the North American hard court swing, where he fell in the first round of the Cincinnati and US Open, showing clear signs of physical fatigue. For many, his downfall in New York seemed like the beginning of the end, but the player from Belgrade isn't giving up; his competitive drive remains intact as he arrives at the ATP 500 in Beijing with a clear goal: to win.

That was his response when asked why he returned to Beijing, a tournament where he has five titles and remains unbeaten, but he hasn't played since 2025. At the ‘Media Day,’ he also spoke about his physical condition and took the opportunity to share one of his lessons about defeats and their teachings.

Djokovic returned to Beijing eleven years later

"It has been quite some time. It's been 11 years since I last played here. I have a great history at this tournament. I’ve always enjoyed playing in Beijing, and in China in general, but especially here. I have always received tremendous support. There is a fantastic atmosphere. Both in training and in matches, you feel a lot of love and support from the Chinese tennis fans. It's something I always look forward to."

"I knew that at some point I would return to Beijing, and I am very happy that it finally happened this year. I arrived a few days early to try to play some practice sets and accumulate a few hours on court before starting to compete. The facilities have improved a lot. Although, honestly, they have always been impressive, among the best we have in our sport. I have always had great memories and very positive feelings when I’ve played here. I hope I can replicate that and have a great tournament."

Djokovic returns to Beijing, where he has never lost a match in his entire career.

The draw he has ahead of him this year is substantial.

1R-Borges
2R-JM Cerúndolo/Yunchaokete
CF-Zverev
SF-Medvedev/Mensik/Bublik
Final-Tien/Auger Aliassime/Cobolli/De Miñaur

Hard? No, it's… pic.twitter.com/WBzMq4nmUp

— José Morón (@jmgmoron) September 28, 2026

Djokovic updates his physical condition upon arriving in Beijing

"So far I feel good. We’ll see. Obviously, it’s completely different to play an official match than to play practice sets or just train, but so far the sensations are good. As I said, I was really looking forward to coming to China, as always. My record on Chinese soil speaks for itself. Knowing that also gives me extra confidence that I really need. Overall, everything has gone very well so far, both physically and in how I feel and play."

"At this stage of my career, it's also about choosing the tournaments where I enjoy playing, where I have had success in the past, and where I feel that the fans welcome me positively. In previous seasons, I tried to fit it into my schedule, but it turned out that I could only play in Shanghai. This year, Beijing was a priority for me. I'm really happy to be here."

Djokovic admits that his intention in Beijing is to win the tournament

"It’s never just about enjoying. If I simply wanted to enjoy the crowd, I could play exhibitions. I’m competing in a professional tournament because I also want to win. That is really the main motivation: to compete and beat the player on the other side of the net that day, and to try to go as far as possible in the tournament."

"Of course, if you can compete in a place where you feel comfortable because of the conditions, because of the support from the crowd, and because of the atmosphere, all of that contributes to you being able to deliver even better performance. I always have expectations of myself. After the career I have had, I cannot be satisfied with just getting through the first rounds of a tournament. I always aspire to reach the later rounds of any tournament I play. Now it's no different and will remain so as long as I continue competing at the highest level."

Djokovic opened up about how he copes with defeats and their lessons

"Challenges are always there. They also represent opportunities to grow, to learn something new from those experiences, and to draw conclusions that you can use to improve, in whatever way, both as a person and as a player, during the subsequent period. I try to maintain and nurture that mindset."

"Obviously, when you’re out there, you’re a warrior, a competitor. You don’t want to lose. You want to win. You try to do absolutely everything within your power. If the other player has been better, then you have to accept it and move on. The good thing about tennis is that there’s always a new opportunity. There is practically a tournament every week. The show must go on. That’s a bit of the mindset. You turn the page, reset, and approach the next tournament trying to give your best," concluded a Novak Djokovic who has not yet said his last word, while Nuno Borges will be his first opponent at the ATP 500 in Beijing.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic aterriza en Pekín con un mensaje claro: "No puedo conformarme"