Novak Djokovic’s 2026 campaign has potentially been one of the toughest of his career so far, but he enjoyed an undoubted high earlier this week.
After all, following a tough run of matches against elite competition, he concluded the China Open with his unbeaten run intact and a seventh title to add to his collection.
After years of trying and failing to secure that elusive 25th Grand Slam title, moments like this prove exactly why he remains ever-present on the ATP Tour, even if he has suffered plenty of setbacks in recent months as well.
And, speaking after this latest trophy, a 102nd at the professional level, Novak Djokovic reaffirmed his retirement intentions with confidence.
It’s now clearer than ever to see why.
Novak Djokovic still plans to retire at the 2028 LA Olympics
Chatting with the press, Djokovic was asked if he plans to ever return to the China Open following this latest triumph.
It was a question he struggled to answer, but eventually admitted: “We will see (smiling). I will be back in Beijing, for sure. In which role and how, I don’t know yet (smiling). I don’t know yet, to be honest.
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“I am not making plans for so much ahead right now. I’m kind of more really following of how I’m feeling, how good I’m playing, how quickly I’m able to recover. The scheduling sways quite a lot. It’s not as set in stone as it was for 20 years.
“But I will be back in China, for sure. Let’s see. I don’t know if I’m going to be playing a tournament. I would like to. One year is quite a long time right now for me to understand my schedule.”
It’s clear that, whilst the future remains uncertain, Djokovic still plans to retire at the 2028 LA Olympics, which is just under two years away now.
Many have wondered why he has remained so fixated on this specific event; after this run in Beijing, it now all makes perfect sense.
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Whilst his Grand Slam goal remains clear, it does seem more and more unlikely as he grows older.
His run at the Australian Open earlier this year was sensational, but it did come out of nowhere. Before then, he had lost his last five matches to Jannik Sinner, and has since lost to him in the Wimbledon semi-finals too.
To then have to contend with Carlos Alcaraz in the very next round represented a near-impossible feat.
Best-of-five set tennis demands so much from the body, and at 39 years of age, he can be forgiven for being unable to do it across two gruelling weeks anymore.
The Olympics, on the other hand, represent a far easier opportunity, facing much easier opponents in the early rounds, and all across a best-of-three format.
Winning the China Open might not do much for his goal of winning a record-breaking 25th major, but it certainly will give him the confidence to believe that a three-set tournament, like the Olympics, remains attainable.
It would be the perfect way for Djokovic to end his career, retiring by hopefully going deep at an elite-level event that does not require the physicality needed for five-set tennis.
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