Novak Djokovic is racing against time. Not only in his bid to win a record 25th Grand Slam title and return to the top of the tennis world, but also in his increasingly difficult battle to qualify for the ATP Finals.
In a 2026 season marked by his limited time on court, the Serb arrives at the Asian Swing with little more than his Australian Open final and Wimbledon semi-final to show for his campaign.
Beyond those two milestones, the former world No. 1 has endured an uncomfortable season in which he has not only failed to win a title, but has barely been able to compete.
His debut at the China Open will mark just his eighth event of the year, a figure so low that it has only been seen in his 2020 and 2022 seasons, although the reasons were different then. First, because of the onset of the pandemic, and later because of the restrictions Djokovic faced as a result of his decision not to get vaccinated.
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This time, however, the scenario is completely different. In 2026, it has not been the establishment that has kept Djokovic out, but his own body.
Injuries to his right forearm and elbow, along with lengthy periods of physical recovery due to the toll of the Grand Slams, have defined the former world No. 1’s year. He arrives in Beijing ranked No. 12 in the world and outside the Top 10 for the first time since July 2018.
He will make his debut on Wednesday against Nuno Borges, marking his first appearance at the Beijing ATP 500 in 11 years. After that comes the Shanghai Masters 1000, where he is the most successful player in the tournament’s history with four titles.
In the race for the ATP Finals, he is currently 15th, more than 500 points behind Daniil Medvedev, who currently occupies eighth place, the final qualifying spot.
Although the 24-time Grand Slam champion could pick up those points by winning in Beijing, the reality is that the race is extremely difficult because the other players in contention are playing far more events than he is.
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Between Medvedev and Djokovic are Rafael Jódar, Taylor Fritz, Tommy Paul, Felix Auger-Aliassime, Alex de Miñaur and Jakub Mensik. All of them have played more than 50 matches and competed in more than 15 events.
Djokovic, by contrast, has a 14-7 record across his seven tournaments, having played just 21 matches this year.
He wins, plays and earns fewer points. Turin therefore looks like an almost impossible mission, although the 39-year-old is one of the few players who has consistently proved to be an exception.
Rick Macci sees it the same way. “The Serbian Sniper remains a living blend of Kobe Bryant’s mentality, Spider-Man’s athleticism and LeBron James’ longevity,” Serena Williams’ former coach wrote on X.
Djokovic will need to prove — and believe — that he is superhuman if he is to end 2026 with at least one title and avoid repeating the trophy drought of 2024. Before that, he had won titles in every season since 2005.
Time is running out for everyone, even Novak Djokovic. In China, he has one of his final chances to board the train to Turin.
