'So far so good': Novak Djokovic feeling positive ahead of Beijing return

[p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Djokovic[/a] will return to action for the first time ‌since his shock opening-round defeat by [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/navone-mariano/YoPUeL3o/"]Mariano Navone[/a] at the ‌US Open late last month, when the 39-year-old struggled with shoulder ‌and back problems and vomited midway through the match.[/p][p]The world ‌number 11 will look to put those problems behind him when he takes on Portugal's [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/borges-nuno/hzbEPIOa/"]Nuno Borges[/a] in [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/borges-n-hzbEPIOa/djokovic-n-AZg49Et9/?mid=YBGg3Lr2"]the first round in Beijing ‌this week[/a].[/p][p]"Yeah, feeling good so far," six-times ⁠China Open champion Djokovic told ‌reporters on Monday.[/p][p]"[b]Let's see. Obviously it's completely different when you're playing an ​official match compared to practice sets or practice sessions. But so far so good[/b].[/p][p]"I was looking forward to ​coming to China, as I always have. My record speaks for itself on Chinese soil.[/p][p]"[b]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[/b]."[/p][embed guid="f2017d79-ce8a-4adc-a3a8-5dc45216c7b1" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2104535964156653862" social-type="twitter" /][p]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.[/p][p]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.[/p][p]"[b]At this stage of my career it's really also about the tournaments where I enjoy to play, where I've had the success ‌in the past, where I feel like I'm also welcomed ​by the fans in a positive light, in a ‌positive way[/b]," Djokovic added.[/p][p]"[b]The history of my results on Chinese soil has been incredible. I haven't played here 11 years. I was trying to make it work in the past years with the schedule, but it worked in such ⁠way where I played ⁠only Shanghai[/b].[/p][p]"This year Beijing was ‌on the priority list."[/p]