Novak Djokovic will return to the China Open in 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 starts 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
Djokovic, who has had a tough US Open campaign, will return to Beijing in the fall. Mariano Navone of Argentina defeated the Serbian in five sets in New York. He had never lost in the first round of a Grand Slam since the Australian Open in 2006.
Djokovic's eight-year run in the top 10 came to an end when he dropped to No. 12 in the ATP rankings. He already made the Wimbledon semifinals in 2023, where he was defeated by eventual champion Jannik Sinner.
Novak Djokovic has the most wins of any man at a tournament without ever losing...
— Bastien Fachan (@BastienFachan) September 16, 2026
He's 29-0 lifetime at the China Open! 🇨🇳
By choosing to play in Beijing again this year, he's putting that record on the line for the chance to say farewell to a city he loves. That's noble 👏 pic.twitter.com/Wih3v8vQrT
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.
The tournament has been one of Djokovic’s most successful stops. In six games, he won six titles without dropping a match. And his 29-0 record is also the best unbeaten record in the history of the tournament.
Sinner and Zverev Add To Star-Studded Beijing Field
Djokovic will return to the China Open field that also includes Sinner, the defending champion and world No. 1. The Italian has reached the final of the China Open three times in 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 go for first place in the draw in the same line-up as Djokovic and Sinner.
The first list of ATP top 10 players has seven players and shows the strength of the men's field. Other notable 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 big tournaments in 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 an excellent 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 priority is returning to a place where he has nearly unmatched success at his peak. The Serbian will return to the court at the National Tennis Center on September 30 to begin his China Open campaign after an 11-year hiatus.
