Novak Djokovic says he is encouraged by the way his body has responded before the China Open as the 24-time tennis Grand Slam champion looks to regain momentum at a happy hunting ground after recent fitness concerns. Djokovic will return to action for the first time since his shock opening-round defeat by Mariano Navone at the US Open on August 30 when the 39-year-old struggled with shoulder and back problems and vomited midway through the match. The world number 11 will look to put those problems behind him when he takes on Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the first round in Beijing this week.
I was looking forward to coming to China, as I always have. My record speaks for itself on Chinese soil. Knowing that, it also brings this dimension of confidence that I really need.
The pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title remains one of the few major targets left for Djokovic, who has become increasingly selective about his tournament schedule in recent years. I haven’t played here in 11 years. I was trying to make it work in the past years with the schedule, but it worked in such a way where I played only Shanghai.
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