Novak Djokovic made his long‑awaited return to the Chinese capital, stepping onto the hard courts of Beijing for the first time in eleven years. The Serbian superstar continued to build on his remarkable streak, marking his 30th straight win at the China Open with a solid performance on Wednesday. A seasoned six‑time champion in Beijing, Djokovic faced Portugal’s rising talent Nuno Borges in the opening round. After a brief medical timeout early in the second set, the world‑number‑one regained his composure and closed out the match 6‑3, 7‑6, with the tiebreak ending 7‑2 in his favour, securing a spot in the tournament’s second round.
Looking ahead, Djokovic’s next challenge will be a match against home favorite Buyunchaokete Bu, who earned his place by defeating Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6‑2, 5‑7, 6‑4. Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic admitted that the second set tested his physical limits. "In the second set he started playing better and I struggled a little bit physically to stay fresh," he explained, referencing the surge from his opponent. The Serbian had entered Beijing after disappointing early exits at both the US Open and the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, making his win all the more satisfying.
When it came to his service game, Djokovic felt in control. "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. His high first‑serve percentage allowed him to dictate points and keep pressure on Borges throughout the match.
At 39 years old, Djokovic required a brief on‑court treatment from the team’s physio when he fell behind 3‑2 in the second set. The treatment did not appear to hinder his play; he promptly served out the next two games without dropping a point, showcasing a level of tennis that reminded fans why he remains a dominant force on the tour.
The match featured only a single service break – Djokovic’s early break of Borges’ first serve – underscoring the tightness of the contest. In the decisive tiebreak, Djokovic surged ahead, creating four match points, though only one was needed as Borges’ attempt to stay in the game resulted in a net error.
Commentator Annabel Croft described the encounter as highly competitive, noting that Djokovic’s service games grew increasingly efficient as the match progressed. "That was a really competitive match by the end of it," she told Sky Sports Tennis.
"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." Beyond the men’s singles, the tournament also highlighted promising performances from other players. British No.1 Katie Boulter opened her Beijing campaign with a confident 6‑3, 6‑4 win over Japanese qualifier Mai Hontama.
Boulter’s next opponent will be the seventh seed and Wimbledon runner‑up Karolina Muchova, setting up a third career meeting between the two and a second encounter this year after Muchova’s straight‑sets victory over Boulter at the US Open. On the ATP side, former US Open semi‑finalist Karen Khachanov continued his recent dominance over Felix Auger‑Aliassime, dispatching the Canadian 6‑3, 6‑3. Fans can follow the action live through various streaming platforms, including NOW and the Sky Sports app, which provide contract‑free access to both the WTA/ATP China Open and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters.
Overall, Djokovic’s return to Beijing not only added another win to his impressive streak but also signaled a potential resurgence after a challenging start to the season. His ability to overcome a brief physical setback, maintain a high level of serving, and close out a tight tiebreak demonstrates the resilience and skill that have defined his career.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on whether he can translate this momentum into deeper runs, possibly culminating in another title in a city where he has historically thrived.