Key Takeaways
- Novak Djokovic confirmed he is dealing with a physical issue and has not yet decided whether he will play at the Shanghai Masters 1000.
- The Serbian stated that he plans to enter the Paris-Bercy tournament, saying, “I also plan to play Paris-Bercy. I don’t know about Shanghai yet.”
- Djokovic noted he still aims to compete at the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin, explaining, “This year I would like to play if I qualify.”
Physical doubts leave Shanghai appearance uncertain
Novak Djokovic is keeping his competitive schedule for the coming weeks flexible as he carefully balances his recovery and tournament commitments. After earning a victory against Bu Yunchaokete at the ATP 500 event in Beijing, the 39-year-old Serbian addressed his current physical state and cast doubt on whether he will travel to the Shanghai Masters 1000.
Speaking to the media in Beijing, Djokovic revealed that he continues to deal with a physical problem following a challenging season. “I also plan to play Paris-Bercy,” Djokovic explained regarding his confirmed stops. “I don’t know about Shanghai yet. I need to see how I feel here and then I will make a decision.”
The battle to secure qualification for Turin
Djokovic’s final stretch of the year is closely connected to the race for the ATP Finals. Having not yet confirmed his place among the 8 competitors heading to Italy, the Serbian veteran admitted that his calendar remains conditional on his physical sensations and his qualifying position.
“I’m not very clear about it right now,” Djokovic noted during his press conference. “At this moment, I’m also not qualified for Turin. This year I would like to play if I qualify.”
The return to the China Open marked Djokovic’s first appearance at the tournament in more than a decade. With Paris-Bercy firmly in his plans and the ATP Finals remaining a key objective should he qualify, the former world number 1 is using every match in Beijing to evaluate whether adding Shanghai to his workload is the right move.
ATP Beijing - Novak Djokovic's projected path
Djokovic in Beijing, ranking, and results in 2026
Ranked world no.11, Novak owns a 17-7 win-loss record in 2026. Novak is playing in Beijing where he ousted the world no.49 Nuno Borges 6-3 7-6(2) and the world no.104 Bu Yunchaokete 4-6 7-6(2) 6-2.
Djokovic won 101 titles in his career: 52 on hard courts, 21 on clay courts, 20 on indoor courts and 8 on grass courts. (See the list of his titles)
