Novak Djokovic ready for tennis comeback at China Open

The 39-year-old will step back onto the court for a competitive match on Wednesday for the first time since the US Open.Novak Djokovic says he is encouraged by the way his body has responded before the ⁠China-open" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="205211" data-entity-type="event">China Open as ⁠the 24-time tennis Grand Slam champion looks to regain momentum at a happy hunting ground after recent fitness concerns.“Yeah, feeling good so far,” Djokovic, a six-time China-open" class="entity-link entity-event" data-entity-id="205211" data-entity-type="event">China Open champion, said on Monday.Djokovic will return to action for the ⁠first time since his shock opening-round defeat by Mariano Navone at the US Open on August 30 when the 39-year-old struggled with shoulder and back problems and ⁠vomited midway through the match.The world number 11 will look to put those problems behind him when he takes on Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the first round in Beijing this week.“Obviously it’s completely different when you’re playing an official match compared to practice sets or practice sessions,” he said before his opening game on Wednesday.“So far so good. I was looking forward to coming to China, as I always have. My record speaks for itself on Chinese soil. Knowing that, it also brings this dimension of confidence that I really need.“Overall, it’s been really good so far with the body, the way ⁠I’m feeling and playing.”‘Beijing was on the priority list’The former world number one is a ⁠massive draw in Beijing, where he won the title in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 and holds a 29-0 win-loss record at the ATP 500 tournament.The pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand ⁠Slam title remains one of the few major targets left for Djokovic, who has become increasingly selective about his tournament ⁠schedule in recent years.