Sept 29 (Reuters) – Novak Djokovic expressed optimism regarding his physical condition as he prepares to compete in the China Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion aims to regain momentum following recent fitness issues.
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Djokovic will return to the court for the first time since his unexpected first-round loss to Mariano Navone at the US Open last month. In that match, the 39-year-old struggled with shoulder and back problems and even vomited during play. He will face Portugal's Nuno Borges in the first round in Beijing.
“Yeah, feeling good so far,” Djokovic told reporters on Monday. He acknowledged the difference between practice sessions and official matches but noted, “so far so good.” He expressed excitement about returning to China, citing his successful history at the event.
The six-time China Open champion holds an impressive 29-0 record at the ATP 500 tournament, with victories in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015. He stated that this success contributes to his confidence and enjoyment of competing in the tournament.
Djokovic emphasized that, at this stage in his career, he prefers tournaments where he has previously succeeded and feels welcomed by fans. He added, “The history of my results on Chinese soil has been incredible.” It's been 11 years since he last played there, and he noted that Beijing was a priority on his schedule this year.
(Reporting by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru; editing by Lincoln Feast.)