Novak Djokovic ready for China Open return

Novak Djokovic says he is feeling encouraged by his physical condition as he prepares to return to competitive tennis at the China Open in Beijing.

The 24-time Grand Slam champion has not played since his first-round defeat to Mariano Navone at the US Open on August 30, when he struggled with shoulder and back problems and became ill during the match.

Djokovic, now ranked 11th in the world, will begin his China Open campaign against Portugal's Nuno Borges on Wednesday.

The 39-year-old said his body had responded well during his preparations, although he acknowledged that competing in an official match would provide a different test from training.

"So far, so good," Djokovic said. "I was looking forward to coming to China, as I always have."

The Serbian has enjoyed remarkable success in China, winning the Beijing title six times in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015.

He has also maintained a perfect 29-0 record at the ATP 500 tournament, making Beijing one of the most successful stops of his career.

Djokovic said his previous achievements in China had given him additional confidence as he prepares to resume competition.

"Knowing that, it also brings this dimension of confidence that I really need," he said.

"Overall, it's been really good so far with the body, the way I'm feeling and playing."

Beijing returns to Djokovic's schedule

Djokovic has become increasingly selective about his tournament schedule in the later stages of his career, with the pursuit of a record-extending 25th Grand Slam title remaining a major objective.

He said his decision to return to Beijing was influenced not only by his past results but also by his enjoyment of competing in the country and the support he has received from fans.

"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," he said.

Djokovic has not competed in Beijing for 11 years. Scheduling commitments in recent seasons had meant he had generally played at the Shanghai Masters when competing in China.

This year, however, he made Beijing a priority.

"The history of my results on Chinese soil has been incredible," Djokovic said. "I haven't played here in 11 years. I was trying to make it work in the past years with the schedule, but it worked in such a way where I played only Shanghai.

"This year, Beijing was on the priority list."

His opening match against Borges will provide Djokovic with his first competitive test since the physical difficulties he experienced at the US Open. The veteran will be seeking to build momentum as he continues his pursuit of further success on the ATP Tour.