CHINA OPEN

October 3, 2026

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/Buyunchaokete

4-6, 7-6, 6-2

THE MODERATOR: Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the press conference of Novak Djokovic. We'll go straight to questions.

Q. In terms of being able to turn that match around, what would you think were the keys in the second set? How much does a win like that mean to you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: It means a lot. Obviously when you win being set down and needing to really work your way back to the match, it kind of values as the double win, to be honest, a double victory in that sense because you're proud of yourself, you're proud of the effort.

Mentally when you're trailing, it's always more difficult because there's more stress, more pressure that you know you have to do the right things to come back to the match. That was the case.

Honestly in the second set, I thought I should have closed it out. Before tiebreak I had break points 3-2, 4-3, 5-4. Every time he needed it, he got first serve in. He was placing his first serve incredibly well. Playing aggressive tennis, inspired tennis.

I never faced him before. I know he beat Jodar in straight sets in US Open this year. I can see why. He's great player, great quality player. Big fighter. Physically seems very fit.

Yeah, I mean, it was a thrilling match to be part of. Three hours almost, almost till midnight. All the people stayed in the stadium all the way, big stadium.

Big support for me, as well, which was beautiful. A bit surprising as well. Playing a Chinese player, I kind of logically expected there would be more on his side.

I've gotten so much support, and couldn't be more blessed for that, to be honest with you. Can't wait to be in front of them in few days' time.

Q. We heard from the tournament committee that you had four meals with your teams here at the players canteen. What do you like about the canteen here?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I think the facilities are amazing. They always have been. I haven't been here 11 years. I can recognize some of the things from the last time I was here. There's been much improvement. Of course, the women's tournament is even stronger category, 1000 event. Lots of incredible players are part of the draw here, both men's and women's.

Beijing has always delivered the best possible organization for their players. Very thankful to be part of it again. From the quality of food, volunteers, ballkids, everyone involved, management. Everybody has been really kind and generous to me and my team.

I can speak on behalf of all of the players, everybody's happy really. You have plenty of courts to train, great conditions. Really feels great to be part of this tournament.

Q. Sometimes do these kinds of wins be a bit frustrating? You had another medical timeout. Fourth match in a row. In Wimbledon. Basically you are fighting. You are giving entertainment to us, we are happy about that, but it means basically you are not 100%.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, I mean, look, I don't want to go into details because then it's going to sound like I'm whining about something or looking for excuses.

Truth is that this year has been a big, big struggle for me with few particular issues that I've been having. I've been just trying to find different ways to be at least giving myself a decent condition physically and health-wise to be on the court and compete with the player across the net. If the player beats me, if he's better, great.

Most of the matches and tournaments this year that I've played have been a real, real struggle for me physically. That's nothing to do with stamina. People mix it up. It's not stamina. It's something else. More related to health.

I don't want to be revealing what it is, but I'm trying to get to the bottom of it with my team. Sometimes it works better, sometimes it doesn't. Today, again, for first couple sets...

Actually surprisingly something I haven't experienced this year so far, that in the third set I kind of broke through. I felt better. Towards the end of the second and all third set, I felt fresher than I have in the beginning of the match.

Yeah, I'm just hopeful with all the things obviously that we're doing that I could be in a control decent conditions for the next match and upcoming matches and tournaments.

That's all I can say. Of course, it's not fun when you're feeling like that on the court because then I'm investing my emotional, mental energy, and physical of course, more on the issues that I'm having rather than thinking about the game and how I can beat my opponent.

The third set today was really enjoyable from that perspective, finally that I get to play tennis without really thinking about all the other things happening, so...

Q. Second match in a row that you thanked the crowd in the match in Chinese. How did you manage to thank them even in full phrases?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: You're very kind, but I think maybe you don't remember. Those are kind of phrases that I've been saying for years. I'm actually not really happy with myself. I have to, like, upgrade my Chinese. I have to come up with some new sentences and new phrases. Thank you for the reminder to do that. I'll try hopefully for the next match a phrase or two that are a bit different.

Anyway, I know the basic phrases where I express my gratitude to fans and really love for them, for their support that has been honestly unbelievable last couple matches here.

I am over the moon having full stadium for both first-round matches. It's something I could only dream of, to be honest. I think any tennis player dreams of playing in front of full stadium every match.

Yeah, I'm thankful to be in the position and to get that support and appreciation from people here. Chinese people love tennis. They love their racquet sports. We know that.

China has a long tennis tradition, not just with tournaments, but with so many different players, different ages that have been successful over the years, particularly the women's side.

The facilities that China has for tennis, I think no other country really has it in terms of volume. Every facility that you have - I haven't been - but from Chengdu to other tournaments, I can see the center courts that other continents can dream of. It's quite impressive.

I think sometimes people take that for granted who come here. I want to really give you the flowers that you deserve and the credit that you deserve. It's amazing that China as a country wants to invest in our sport. Of course as a tennis player I feel privileged really to be part of this kind of event.

Q. I posted a post on the Internet calling for the fans to ask a question. A lot of fans want to ask you your plans for the future. Are you going to Shanghai?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: I don't have that super clear right now. At the moment I'm also not really qualified yet for the race, for the Turin. I mean, this year I would like to play if I qualify. I'm planning also to play Paris Bercy.

Shanghai, I still don't know. I need to see how I feel here and then I decide.