CHINA OPEN

October 5, 2026

Novak Djokovic

Press Conference

N. DJOKOVIC/D. Medvedev

7-5, 5-3 (def.)

THE MODERATOR: Welcome to the press conference of Novak Djokovic.

We'll take questions.

Q. Not the way you wanted to win, but incredible performance tonight. Three hours, not even two sets. Can you talk about the match itself, what you were pleased with, and maybe a little bit on kind of how it ended.

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Well, definitely shocking ending of the match. I didn't see what happened. As soon as I made the winner, I turned around and went for the towel. We saw what happened on the court.

There was a person that was obviously, yeah, injured or not feeling good. I don't know the severity of the injury. I hope it's nothing serious.

I'm also feeling sorry for Daniil because I know the feeling. 2020 US Open for similar circumstances I was also disqualified.

It's horrible because I'm sure that Daniil didn't have the intention of injuring anybody in the stands, but it happens.

I was three points away from winning the match. You could say I could have clinched that game, but considering the amount of break points I faced, I'm sure it wouldn't be such an easy hold for me to clinch the match. Nevertheless, one of the longest two sets that I've played in last years.

It's always a great battle with Daniil. I knew coming into the match that with these kind of conditions, with the ball striking that he has presented the last couple weeks, winning the week before Beijing, now going comfortably through his field to the semis, I knew that it was going to take a lot of energy, a lot of effort from my side if I want to get a win.

That's what happened. Some situations I was also lucky and fortunate that he missed some easy put-aways when he had some break points in the second. Yeah, his conversion of break points was not good today.

Look, I didn't feel like I had too many free points. Every point you had to work extremely hard. At some point I was just like praying to get a little bit more time between points. It was very, very exhausting.

Yeah, difficult circumstances to finish with. I'm glad to kind of go through and reach another final here in Beijing.

Q. As you said the other day, you always feel that you can beat anybody. The real challenge sometimes this year was playing the match the day after. You did it amazingly. You spoke sometimes about Olympics 2028 as one of your goals. How far it felt after US Open and how closer it feels after a week like this maybe?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Game-wise it doesn't feel far, to be honest, because when I'm feeling health-wise good, I have proven many times in the last couple years that I can beat the best players in the world. That's what I've been proving also this week.

I'm not concerned about my game or the state of mind. I'm just concerned about the physical health issues that I've been trying to get to the bottom of. Once that's resolved completely, hopefully soon, then I don't see an issue getting to L.A.

Q. You have Alex next in the final. What are your thoughts going into that? What do you have to do right to hold the trophy?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: A lot of running (smiling). Again, it doesn't get easier when it comes to running, that's for sure.

Look, I expect another battle, another physical match where probably I will not get too many free points. That's why I'm turning my head towards recovery and trying to get out on the court as fresh as I possibly can to deliver the goods.

THE MODERATOR: Chinese questions.

Q. I want to bring you back to 2015 in the final you defeating Nadal. In the past decade, we talk about the three giants. You are the last one standing. How special is it? You still have an undefeated record in the China Open. What does it mean to you?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Yeah, 2015 was a fantastic year for Beijing Open, but also just in general. One of the best seasons I had in my career. Probably the best 18 months that I had in my career were the 12 months of 2015 and six months of 2016. I was probably playing the tennis of my life. Had, yeah, one of the most dominant tournament wins here in 2015. Yeah, good memories. Hopefully similar performance like the one in the finals of 2015 can be repeated tomorrow. Let's see.

I'm a completely different player 11 years later. There's something about Beijing that just keeps me going. I feel great. I love playing here. Support is obviously amazing, as well.

Yeah, look forward to it.

Q. Into the final of the China Open. You have made all kinds of records. 33-match winning streak in the China Open. Everybody is looking forward to another win, another record in the China Open. A lot of Chinese fans are coming here from all over the country. Some of them did not get the tickets to the Diamond Court. They're gathering outside the Diamond Court. They're gathering, watching the screen, calling your name. Do you have anything special to say to the Chinese fans?

NOVAK DJOKOVIC: Thank you for bringing that up.

I have noticed a lot of fans that are also outside of the center court, Diamond Court, and also outside of my hotel. I try to interact with them. It's now been several nights in a row that I've been going out from my car when I arrive in the hotel and interact for 15 or 20 minutes with the fans, make pictures, sign autographs.

I understand that not everybody has a chance to be present on the court and have the ticket. I really appreciate also the support of the people who are not particularly in the stadium. I see them. I notice them. I try to interact and show love and respect.

Thank you very much.