Djokovic feels good ahead of China Open return

Novak Djokovic said he feels good in practice ahead of his return to the China Open, but cautioned that an official match will be a different test as he prepares to play his first competitive match since losing in the US Open first round. He is scheduled to face Portugal’s Nuno Borges in Beijing. The 39-year-old said at a pre-tournament news conference that his body and play had been responding well during practice. He added that practice sessions and practice sets cannot show how he will feel in competition. His comments offer an update on his own assessment, but do not establish whether earlier health problems have resolved. Djokovic’s last competitive match was his August 30 loss to Mariano Navone at the US Open. Reports said he struggled with shoulder and back problems during that match, but did not establish a medical diagnosis. Djokovic has also previously disclosed an ongoing health issue that worsens in hot, humid conditions without specifying what it is. The available information does not clarify whether that issue is connected to the problems reported at the US Open. The China Open is Djokovic’s first appearance in Beijing since 2015.