China Open Entry List: Novak Djokovic set for return after 11 years as Jannik Sinner and Alexander Zverev headline stacked lineup
ATPTuesday, 01 September 2026 at 18:00
The US Open may have just started, but there is already a lot of hype ahead of the Asian swing with the China Open having released a stacked lineup for the event in Beijing, with seven of the top 10 taking centre stage in the Chinese capital.
Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic are the notable names on the list, both having won the title numerous times before in the past. World No.2 Alexander Zverev will also compete for glory against some of the best players in the world with Carlos Alcaraz not on the list, likely focusing on the Japan Open instead.
The other top 10 names participating are Felix Auger-Aliassime, Flavio Cobolli, Alex de Minaur, and Daniil Medvedev who will all look to get some wins under their belt ahead of the next Masters 1000 event at the Shanghai Masters.
Alexander Bublik, Andrey Rublev, Jakub Mensik and Cameron Norrie will also set to feature with the event set to take place from September 30 - October 6.
📢 The 2026 China Open men's singles player list is officially announced!
— China Open (@ChinaOpen) September 1, 2026
🔥 Two generations of tennis leaders —Jannik Sinner and Novak Djokovic — headline the field, with 7 of the world's top 10 gathering in Beijing.
📅Sep 28 – Oct 6 | National Tennis Center#ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/fLAlOGGdd5
Sinner and Djokovic headline upcoming China Open entry list, but will they compete?
After 11 years, Djokovic will finally make a highly anticipated return to the China Open. The six-time champion won six of the seven events between 2009 and 2015, having won his most recent four participations. To make this even more remarkable, he has competed in the event six times.
This 100% record will be tested with some top players featuring. That is added to his recent woes in North America. A first round exit at the US Open follows after an early defeat at the Cincinnati Open has shed a lot of worrying concerns surrounding the 39-year-old whose career may be starting to slowly dwindle down.
However, a return to China could be the thing to get him back to his best with so much success in the country in the past.
This time, he will need to take down the reigning champion Jannik Sinner, whose injury concerns also may keep him out of the event, all depending on how long his right knee needs. This has kept him out of the US Open.
The priority of for him to focus on the ATP Finals, something he has already qualified for, but if the recovery goes smoothly then he will most certainly be featuring in China on the Asian swing. He has reached the final in the last three events, winning in 2023 and 2025 with Alcaraz pipping him in a thriller in 2024.
There are huge question marks surrounding both of these top players, but if they are fit and raring to go then they will be the players to beat in what will be a hugely anticipated tournament commencing at the end of September.
Lucas MichaelTennis Journalist
Lucas Michael is a tennis journalist based in Cambridge, UK, specializing in comprehensive coverage of the ATP and WTA tours. For the past 1.5 years, he has been a core contributor to TennisUpToDate, where he has authored more than 3,000 data-driven match reports, deep-dive analysis pieces, and engaging liveblogs.
Lucas pairs real-time statistical analysis with on-the-ground reporting, frequently traveling to tournaments to cover the action firsthand from the press box and player press conferences. This blend of advanced metrics and direct access allows him to provide sharp context regarding player form, tactical trends, and breaking tour developments.
He holds a BA (Hons) in Sports Journalism. Grounded in core journalistic ethics, Lucas places a strict emphasis on meticulous sourcing, editorial accuracy, and a commitment to updating live content swiftly as verified information emerges.
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