Novak Djokovic made his long-awaited return to Beijing this week, marking his first appearance in the Chinese capital in eleven years. The Serbian star continued his remarkable streak at the China Open, notching his 30th consecutive win at the event on Wednesday. Djokovic, who has claimed the tournament title six times, faced Portugal's Nuno Borges in the opening round. Despite taking a medical timeout early in the second set, he managed to pull through with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) triumph, advancing to the second round of the competition.
The match began with Djokovic establishing his dominance on serve, delivering a series of powerful first serves that kept his opponent on the defensive. His high first‑serve percentage allowed him to dictate the pace of the game and build confidence in his service games.
Borges, a solid baseline player, struggled to find answers to Djokovic's aggressive play, and the Serbian soon secured a break of serve in Borges' opening service game, giving him an early edge. In the first set, Djokovic's serving was virtually unassailable.
He held serve with ease, mixing heavy topspin forehands with precise backhand slices, and finished the set 6-3. The second set proved more competitive. Borges raised his level, forcing Djokovic into longer rallies and testing his physical stamina.
Midway through the set, Djokovic appeared to be experiencing some physical discomfort and called for a medical timeout when the score was 3-2 in Borges' favor. The on‑court physio attended to him promptly, but the Serbian seemed to recover quickly. After the timeout, Djokovic's game sharpened. He reported feeling a bit physically taxed but emphasized that his serve was still a major weapon.
"When I was serving, I was dominating and going through my games quite comfortably. It was helping getting those first serves in, that high percentages makes my life easier in my service games and I played a great tie‑break to close it out in two, so I am very happy about that," he said in the post‑match interview. His confidence on serve translated into a flawless performance in the tie‑break, where he raced ahead, creating four match points. Borges managed to get one of those points by netting a shot, but Djokovic sealed the win with a decisive point, clinching the set 7-2 in the tie‑break.
Commentators highlighted the physical aspect of the contest. Annabel Croft of Sky Sports noted, "That was a really competitive match by the end of it.
Djokovic managed to find a way towards that finishing line and actually his service games became more and more efficient. So much of what we talked about in commentary was the physicality of the match and how uncomfortable Djokovic felt." Despite the brief physical setback, Djokovic's resilience shone through, and he finished the match without dropping a single service game after the medical timeout. Looking ahead, Djokovic's next opponent will be the home favorite Buyunchaokete Bu, who earned his spot by defeating Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. The upcoming clash promises to be a test of Djokovic's adaptability, as Bu will be buoyed by the support of the local crowd and will likely try to exploit any lingering physical concerns.
Beyond the men's singles, the tournament featured several notable performances. British player Katie Boulter opened her Beijing campaign with a solid 6-3, 6-4 win over Japanese qualifier Mai Hontama. Boulter's victory sets up a second‑round encounter with seventh seed and Wimbledon runner‑up Karolina Muchova.
This will be the third meeting between the two in their careers and the second this year, following Muchova's straight‑sets victory over Boulter at the US Open. On the men's side, former US Open semi‑finalist Karen Khachanov continued his recent surge of form, dispatching Felix Auger‑Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 in a commanding display. Khachanov's aggressive baseline play and powerful serve left Auger‑Aliassime with limited options, reinforcing Khachanov's status as a contender in the latter stages of the tournament.
The China Open, part of the ATP 1000 series, runs concurrently with the Shanghai Masters, offering fans a week of high‑quality tennis across two major Chinese venues. For viewers, the matches are available to stream without a long‑term contract via NOW and the Sky Sports app, providing live coverage of both ATP and WTA events.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on Djokovic to see if he can extend his impressive streak and perhaps signal a return to form after early exits at the US Open and Cincinnati earlier this season. Overall, Djokovic's performance in Beijing underscores his enduring class and ability to overcome physical hurdles.
His precise serving, tactical adjustments after the medical timeout, and mental fortitude in the tie‑break all contributed to a well‑deserved victory. With the next round looming, fans will be eager to see whether the Serbian legend can maintain his momentum and add another China Open title to his already illustrious résumé.