Novak came back from a set down to keep his perfect record at the China Open alive. In a dramatic match on Friday evening in Beijing, Djokovic defeated Chinese wild card Bu Yunchaokete 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2. The sixth seed will face top seed Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals on Sunday.

The Serbian No. 1 returned to action after a month-long break and opened his campaign with a win. Novak defeated world No. 49 Nuno Borges of Portugal 2-0 in the first round of the ATP tournament in Beijing, winning 6-3, 7-6(2).

Novak’s return to Chinese soil is scheduled for September 30, with the Serbian seeded No. 6. The organisers released the complete main-draw bracket on Monday.

The best Serbian tennis player will compete at the China Open in Beijing after 11 years, returning to the 500-series tournament where he has participated six times and won the title every single time.

Novak’s US Open campaign came to an end in the first round following a marathon battle with Argentina’s Mariano Navone, which featured several major momentum swings and was played in demanding weather conditions. After losing the opening set, the Serbian fought back to take a 2-1 lead, but a back injury ultimately halted his comeback and prevented him from performing at his best in the closing stages.

The main singles draw for the 2026 edition of the US Open has been made on Thursday. No. 4 seed Novak Djokovic will open his campaign in his 20th US Open appearance against world No. 48 Mariano Navone (Argentina).