By China Open Begins With a Strong Field
The China Open is the main focus of the tennis schedule on September 30, with the ATP 500 men’s tournament and WTA 1000 women’s event taking centre stage in Beijing. The tournament is being played on outdoor hard courts and has attracted a large group of leading players following the US Open.
The men’s event runs from September 30 to October 6, while the women’s tournament continues until October 11. The combination of major ranking points and a strong player field makes Beijing one of the key stops of the Asian swing.
Djokovic Returns to Beijing
One of the biggest stories is Novak Djokovic’s return to the China Open. The 39-year-old Serbian has not played the Beijing tournament since 2015 but returns as a six-time champion.
Djokovic’s first-round opponent is Portugal’s Nuno Borges. The match is listed for September 30 and marks an important return to a tournament where Djokovic has previously enjoyed considerable success.
Djokovic recently spoke positively about his physical condition ahead of the tournament. His return is particularly notable because he missed the China Open for more than a decade.
Zverev Faces Norrie
Alexander Zverev is another major name beginning his China Open campaign. The German is the top seed in Beijing and faces Britain’s Cameron Norrie in the opening round.
Zverev enters the tournament after winning the 2026 US Open and also capturing the French Open earlier in the season. His first-round meeting with Norrie is therefore one of the headline matches on the opening-day schedule.
The two players have already met several times, including a match at Cincinnati earlier this year. Zverev won that encounter in three sets.
More ATP Matches to Watch
The men’s draw contains several other interesting first-round contests. Felix Auger-Aliassime faces Karen Khachanov, while Andrey Rublev meets Tallon Griekspoor.
Alex de Minaur is scheduled to play Mariano Navone, while Alexander Bublik faces Jakub Mensik. Hubert Hurkacz will take on Learner Tien, and Roberto Bautista Agut is also among the players involved in the Beijing draw.
These matches give the opening round plenty of depth, with established players and younger competitors meeting across the hard courts.
Women’s China Open Action
The women’s China Open is also moving into its main phase. The WTA 1000 tournament has a 96-player singles draw, with the top 32 seeds receiving first-round byes.
Elena Rybakina leads the field, followed by Aryna Sabalenka and Coco Gauff. Several other major names, including Iga Swiatek, Jessica Pegula, Naomi Osaka and defending champion Amanda Anisimova, are also part of the tournament.
The event is particularly significant because several leading players are returning to tour action after their US Open campaigns.
Japan Open Begins
The Kinoshita Group Japan Open in Tokyo also starts its main draw on September 30. The ATP 500 tournament runs through October 6 and features Carlos Alcaraz among its leading attractions.
The tournament has an additional storyline involving Japanese star Kei Nishikori. Organisers confirmed that the two-time champion will make his final Japan Open appearance before retiring from professional tennis at the end of the 2026 season.
Nishikori is scheduled to compete in the singles main draw with a wild card, making his final appearance at the event particularly significant for Japanese tennis supporters.
Asian Swing Continues
The opening of the China Open and Japan Open marks an important part of the Asian swing. Players are competing for ranking points and match wins as the 2026 season moves toward its final stages.
Beijing has the added attraction of Djokovic’s return, Zverev’s first-round match and a deep women’s field led by Rybakina, Sabalenka and Gauff. Tokyo, meanwhile, combines Alcaraz’s presence with Nishikori’s farewell appearance.
Key Matches to Follow
The September 30 schedule offers several matches for tennis fans to follow, with Djokovic vs Borges and Zverev vs Norrie among the most prominent men’s fixtures. Khachanov vs Auger-Aliassime, De Minaur vs Navone and Bublik vs Mensik add further interest to the Beijing programme.
With two major tournaments beginning simultaneously, the day’s action sets up an important stretch of the 2026 tennis calendar and gives fans plenty of high-level matches to follow across Beijing and Tokyo.
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