Novak Djokovic will return to the China Open at Beijing for the first time in 11 years in 2026 after the 24-time Grand Slam champion announced he will be part of the ATP 500 event. Djokovic will be joined by world No. 1 Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev in a strong draw for the tournament, which begins on September 30.
Djokovic last played at the China Open in 2015 and has never lost a match at the tournament. He won all six of his previous appearances in Beijing and won titles in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. His record at the event is 29 wins from 29 matches.
On September 16, the Serbian star announced his return, saying that he was very excited to play again in the National Tennis Center and thanked the Chinese fans for their support.
Djokovic returns to a tournament that he has never lost.
After a tough US Open campaign, Djokovic will return to Beijing. Mariano Navone of Argentina defeated the Serbian in five sets in New York for the first time in his career. He had not been defeated in the first round of a Grand Slam since the Australian Open in 2006.
Djokovic’s eight-year run in the top 10 also ended as he fell to No. 12 in the ATP rankings. This season he had already reached the Wimbledon final where he was defeated by eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
Djokovic’s return to Beijing will give him a chance to play at the tournament where he has been doing so well. He won his sixth China Open title in 2015 when he beat Rafael Nadal in the final 6-2, 6-2.
Djokovic came to the tournament with one of his best performances. He won six titles in six games and didn’t lose a single match. His 29-0 record also stands as the most perfect record in the history of the tournament.
Sinner and Zverev Add To Star-Studded Beijing Field
Djokovic will return to a China Open field that includes Sinner, the defending champion and world No. 1. The Italian has reached the final of the China Open in each of his three previous editions and won the title in 2023 and 2025.
Sinner won the 2025 final against American Learner Tien. He won the championship 6-2, 6-2.
Alexander Zverev is also confirmed for the tournament. The former world No. 2 has already made the Beijing finals three times and will make it to the first place in the draw in the same line-up as Djokovic and Sinner.
The ATP top 10 players list has seven players in the first list, and it shows the strength of the men's game. The other prominent names are Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Minaur, Andrey Rublev, Alexander Bublik and Jakub Mensik.
The 2026 tournament will be the 25th edition of the China Open. The men’s main draw will begin on Sept. 30 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing. The China Open is an ATP 500 event and one of the major tournaments on the Asian swing of the tennis season.
Djokovic begins Next Chapter in Beijing
Djokovic’s Beijing return will be a crucial stage in his 2026 season. The Serbian will have to find a rhythm and confidence in his match rhythm and confidence as he enters the ATP calendar once more after his early US Open exit.
His record in Beijing is a perfect backdrop to the comeback. Djokovic won every match he has played at the China Open, but he will now face a field that includes many of the world’s top players of the current generation.
Sinner’s presence adds another edge to the tournament - especially since the Italian defeated Djokovic at Wimbledon earlier this year. Zverev, meanwhile, brings another Grand Slam champion into an already competitive field.
Djokovic's first goal is to return to the place where he has had nearly unparalleled success. The Serbian returns to the court at the National Tennis Center on September 30 to begin his China Open campaign after 11 years in the wilderness.
