Novak Djokovic says whether he was surprised by his own level at the China Open after winning the title

In what has been a difficult year for him on the court, Novak Djokovic managed to add to his title tally at the 2026 China Open.

A month after his shocking first-round exit at the US Open, Djokovic clinched the 102nd tour-level crown of his career in Beijing. The Serb battled past Alexander Zverev and Daniil Medvedev en route to the final, where he met Alex de Minaur.

Djokovic took the first set against De Minaur in the title bout, but the Australian called a halt to the contest early in set two with a groin injury. Djokovic was crowned the China Open champion for the seventh time in his career and remains undefeated at the tournament with a win-loss record of 34-0.

Asked in an interview with Tennis TV if he was surprised by his level at the ATP 500 event, given how much he struggled during the North American hard court swing, Djokovic replied: “Slightly surprised. I must say, pleasantly, of course. I say slightly because I always know what I’m capable of, and I know that I can play at that level.

“And once I’m feeling, you know, good health-wise, physically as well, that I’m on the court when I’m striking the ball well, and the conditions of play with the balls and speed of the court and just conditions in general are suitable to my game, which is the case in Beijing and has always been, then everything kind of clicks together and I’m able to have the week that I had.

“So it came at the right time, no doubt, because I struggled this year quite a lot. And, you know, to really physically and health-wise feel well on the court, particularly in back-to-back matches.

“And I was challenged. I was challenged to the limit, I think, particularly in those three consecutive days when I faced the three top-ten players and, you know, came up with the goods when it mattered. So just really thrilled with the week that I had.”

With his triumph in Beijing, Djokovic became the first player ever to have won an ATP title every season for 21 consecutive years. “I’m proud of it,” said the 39-year-old, reacting to the statistic. “I’ve always been trying to play the long game, you know, trying to have the big picture in my mind, how can I extend my career longevity.

“I always go back to one of the best pieces of advice that I ever got from my late tennis mother, I like to call her, Jelena Gencic. She taught me all the fundamentals of tennis, of the sport. And she always told me, you know, make sure that everything that you do in your career and off the court that affects everything you do on the court is in service of a longer career.

Because Wimbledon, at that time, you know, for me as a young boy, was the dream tournament. So that you have multiple shots at Wimbledon, not just one, right? So that kind of mindset and philosophy always stayed with me, and trying to really have a long career and more opportunities to compete at the highest level at all the tournaments.

“And yeah, so I’m really, as I said, glad that, you know, one of these records- 21 years in a row, when a tournament is there- I’m trying to enjoy it as much as I can while it’s still there and this kind of feeling of playing well on the highest level. So let’s see how it goes.”

Djokovic’s next appearance will come at the Shanghai Masters, where he will take on Hubert Hurkacz in his opening match.

This article first appeared on The Tennis Gazette and was syndicated with permission.