The 24-time Grand Slam champion is set to compete in Beijing for the first time since 2015
BEIJING:
Novak Djokovic will return to the China Open after an 11-year absence, the 24-times Grand Slam champion announced on Wednesday, as he looks to rebuild momentum after slipping to world number 12 and suffering a shock first-round exit at the U.S. Open.
The 39-year-old Serb is returning to the ATP 500 event in Beijing, where he boasts a perfect record and a tournament-best six titles. Djokovic’s most recent China Open triumph came in 2015, the last year he competed at the tournament.
The decision follows his first-round loss at the U.S. Open to unseeded Argentine Mariano Navone in five sets.
Djokovic, a four-times champion in New York, vomited midway through the match and was hampered by back and shoulder issues that affected his serve late on.
The defeat marked the first time Djokovic had lost in the opening round of a Grand Slam since the 2006 Australian Open.
“I am excited to come back and perform in front of all of you at the National Tennis Centre – one of the nicest venues we have in tennis,” the former world number one said on social media.
The men’s draw at the China Open runs from September 30 to October 6. World number one Jannik Sinner won the men’s title last year.