Wimbledon champ Djokovic confirms China Open date

Five-time China Open champion Novak Djokovic. [File photo]

Can't get enough of Novak Djokovic's precise backhand strokes and elegant slides across court at Wimbledon? Then head for Beijing in October where the world No 1 has confirmed his appearance at the China Open.

Djokovic, who claimed his ninth Grand Slam crown in London at the weekend, will be making his sixth appearance at the China Open as defending champion.

The Beijing ATP 500 tournament has been a favorite of the Serb since his first appearance in 2009 and he has remained undefeated, claiming five titles and a 24-match win streak, only missing the 2011 edition through injury.

Djokovic puts his excellent record in Beijing down to his loyal fan base. "Playing in Beijing always means a lot to me, and I love playing in the China Open. I'm thankful for the support of all of my Chinese fans, especially the ‘Nole Family' (name of his fan group) members. I really hope to entertain the crowd and try to continue my winning streak," the 28-year-old said.

Staged at the 11-court National Tennis Center, venue for the 2008 Beijing Olympics' tournament, which features a 15,000-seat stadium court with a retractable roof, the China Open has developed into the biggest WTA-ATP event in Asia.

As one of four WTA Premier Mandatory events, the Open attracts the world's top 50 female players contesting 1,000 ranking points, plus the obvious lucrative prize money.

The event runs between Sept 27 and Oct 11.