Novak Djokovic made his return to competitive tennis in Beijing after an eleven‑year hiatus from the city, extending his remarkable streak at the China Open to thirty straight wins on Wednesday. The Serbian star, who has claimed six titles in the Chinese capital over the course of his career, faced Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the opening round.
After a brief medical timeout in the second set, Djokovic rallied to clinch the match 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2), securing his place in the second round of the tournament. The next opponent on Djokovic’s schedule is the local favorite Buyunchaokete Bu, who earned his spot by defeating Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6‑2, 5‑7, 6‑4. Bu’s aggressive baseline play and home‑court support will present a fresh challenge for the world number one as he seeks to maintain his momentum. 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 told reporters, acknowledging the fatigue that has lingered since his early exits at the US Open and the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati earlier this season. Despite these setbacks, Djokovic emphasized the importance of his service game. "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.
At 39 years old, Djokovic’s resilience was on display when he received treatment from the team physiotherapist while trailing 3‑2 in the second set. The brief interruption did not appear to hinder his performance; he went on to win his next two service games without dropping a point, showcasing a level of precision and composure that reminded fans why he remains a dominant force on the tour.
The match featured only a single service break, which Djokovic secured early in Borges’ opening service game. From there, he built a comfortable lead, and the tie‑break saw him race ahead, creating four match points.
Borges managed to save three of them, but the decisive point came when he netted a forehand, handing Djokovic the victory. Commentator Annabel Croft praised the competitiveness of the encounter, 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 said to 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 China Open 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 victory sets up a clash with seventh seed and Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova, marking their third career meeting and the second this season after Muchova’s straight‑sets triumph over Boulter in the US Open second round. On the ATP side, former US Open semi‑finalist Karen Khachanov continued his strong form by dispatching Felix Auger‑Aliassime 6‑3, 6‑3, reinforcing his position as a contender in the tournament.
For fans wishing to follow the action, the matches are available for streaming without a contract on the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app. Both the WTA and ATP draws, including the China Open and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters, can be watched live via Sky Sports, providing comprehensive coverage of the week’s highlights. Djokovic’s win not only marks his first triumph since Wimbledon but also underscores his ability to adapt and overcome physical challenges, a testament to his longevity in a sport that increasingly favors younger talent.
As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the Serbian champion to see if he can extend his winning streak and perhaps add another China Open title to his illustrious résumé.