“I Never Play Just to Enjoy”- Novak Djokovic Sends Blunt Message Ahead of Long-Awaited Beijing Return

Novak Djokovic is back in Beijing after 11 years away, and he has never lost a single match there. The return comes at a shaky point physically, with lingering issues having already derailed his campaigns at both the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open, where he crashed out in the first round to world No. 49 Mariano Navone in a grueling five-setter. It’s his first tournament since that early exit, and in his pre-tournament press conference, Djokovic removed all doubts about why he was there at all.

“Well, it’s never just to enjoy, you know, I could play exhibitions just to enjoy the style,” he said. “You know, playing a professional tournament, because I also want to win, and that’s actually the primary motivation, is always trying to compete and win against the guy across the net on a given day and try to get as far as you can in the tournament.”

The record he possesses on Chinese soil backs up his confidence. Djokovic has won the China Open all six times he has participated – 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2015- posting a perfect 29-0 record. No man on any other tour-level tournament holds a record like this since the ATP was founded in 1990. 

Along the way he beat the likes of Rafael Nadal, Andy Murray, Tomas Berdych, and David Ferrer to collect those six titles, and a seventh this week would give him his 102nd career trophy, moving him one step closer to Jimmy Connors’ all-time record of 109 and past Roger Federer’s 103.

August 30, 2026, New York, New York, USA: NOVAK DJOKOVIC of Serbia during the match against Mariano Navone of Argentina in the first round of Grand Slam tournament US Open. New York USA – ZUMAc278 20260830_zsp_c278_003 Copyright: xMarcinxCholewinskix

The Serbian leaned directly on that history when explaining the confidence he is carrying into this comeback despite the physical setbacks of the past two months. 

“My record speaks for itself on the Chinese soil, so knowing that it also brings this dimension of confidence that I really need,” he said. “Overall it’s been really good so far with the body and the way I’m feeling and playing. The history of my results on the Chinese soil has been incredible, and I haven’t played here in 11 years, so I’m trying to make it work in the past years with the schedule, but the schedule worked in such a way where I played only Shanghai, but this year Beijing wasn’t a priority list, so I’m really glad I’m here.”

Djokovic still searching for his first title this season

Djokovic opens against Nuno Borges, leading their head-to-head 1-0, before a likely second-round meeting with the winner of Juan Manuel Cerundolo and Bu Yunchaokete. They are all sitting in the same quarter as top seed Alexander Zverev, who inherited the No. 1 spot in the draw after Jannik Sinner’s withdrawal.

The rest of the field is stacked as well, with second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime, Hangzhou champion Daniil Medvedev, Flavio Cobolli, Alex de Minaur and Jakub Mensik all posing a huge challenge for the 39-year-old if he is to maintain the record. 

MASON, OHIO – AUGUST 15: Novak Djokovic of Serbia is seen during day five of the Cincinnati Open at the Lindner Family Tennis Center on August 15, 2026 in Mason, Ohio. PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxBRAxMEX Copyright: xShainaxBenhiyoun/SPPx Sportspressphoto_SPR207718

The 24-time Grand Slam champion carries a 14-7 record into Beijing, with his best results coming at the Australian Open, where he lost the final to Carlos Alcaraz, and Wimbledon, where he fell in the semifinals to eventual champion Sinner. He has fallen out of the top 10 rankings for the first time since 2018. Additionally, he has never completed a year without winning a title, but this year till now, he is yet to win one. 

However, Djokovic has pushed back on any questions regarding his farewell and has made his motive clear, which is to win every tournament he enters. Will he keep his Beijing record intact alongside winning a title every year he has competed? 

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