Novak Djokovic made his return to competitive tennis in Beijing this year, marking his first appearance in the Chinese capital in more than a decade. The Serbian star, who has claimed the China Open title six times, continued his remarkable streak by notching his 30th straight win at the tournament on Wednesday. After a brief medical timeout in the second set, Djokovic managed to overcome Portugal’s Nuno Borges with a 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) scoreline, advancing to the second round of the event. The next opponent on Djokovic’s schedule is home‑favorite Buyunchaokete Bu, who earned his place in the draw by defeating Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-2, 5-7, 6-4.
Djokovic, now 39, reflected on his performance, noting that the second set saw an improvement in his play while he felt a bit physically taxed. "In the second set he started playing better and I struggled a little bit physically to stay fresh," he admitted, referring to his own form. The Serbian entered Beijing after disappointing early exits at both the US Open and the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati, making this win a much‑needed confidence boost. Speaking about his service game, Djokovic highlighted the importance of a high first‑serve percentage.
"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 explained. His remarks underscored how a reliable serve can dictate the flow of a match, especially on the fast indoor courts of the China Open.
During the second set, with the score at 3-2 in Borges' favor, Djokovic received treatment from the on‑court physiotherapist. Despite the interruption, the Serbian did not appear hindered and proceeded to win the next two service games without dropping a point, showcasing some of the finest tennis of his career at this stage.
The match featured only a single service break, which Djokovic secured early in Borges' opening service game, allowing him to maintain pressure throughout. The decisive tie‑break saw Djokovic surge ahead, rapidly accumulating four match points.
Borges managed to save one before ultimately succumbing to the net, handing Djokovic the set and the match. Commentator Annabel Croft described the encounter as highly competitive toward the end, noting that Djokovic’s service games grew increasingly efficient as the match progressed.
"That was a really competitive match by the end of it," Croft 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 featured notable performances from other players. British No.
1 Katie Boulter opened her Beijing campaign with a solid 6-3, 6-4 win over Japanese qualifier Mai Hontama. Boulter’s next challenge will be against seventh seed and Wimbledon runner‑up Karolina Muchova, setting up a third career meeting between the two and a rematch of their recent US Open encounter, where Muchova dispatched Boulter in straight sets during the second round. On the men’s side, former US Open semifinalist Karen Khachanov continued his recent dominance over Felix Auger‑Aliassime, delivering a convincing 6-3, 6-3 victory. Khachanov’s win further emphasizes his strong form heading into the latter stages of the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters, which runs concurrently with the China Open.
For fans wishing to follow the action live, the matches are available without a contract on the NOW platform and via the Sky Sports app. Both the WTA and ATP segments of the China Open, as well as the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters, can be streamed in real time, offering comprehensive coverage of the tournament’s highlights and upsets.
Overall, Djokovic’s triumph in Beijing not only marks his first win since Wimbledon but also reaffirms his enduring ability to compete at the highest level despite recent setbacks. His resilience, tactical serving, and mental fortitude were on full display, promising an intriguing second‑round showdown against Bu and hinting at the potential for further success as the Asian swing of the season progresses.