Novak Djokovic made his long‑awaited return to the Beijing courts this week, marking his first appearance in the Chinese capital in eleven years. The Serbian star continued to build on his extraordinary streak at the event, pushing his run of consecutive wins at the China Open to an impressive thirty matches after a straight‑sets triumph on Wednesday. A six‑time champion in Beijing, Djokovic faced Portugal’s rising talent Nuno Borges in the opening round. After a solid first set that ended 6‑3 in his favour, the match grew tighter in the second.
Djokovic called for a medical timeout when he was trailing 2‑3, but he quickly regained his composure and used his powerful serve to dictate play. He ultimately sealed the encounter with a 7‑6 win, taking the tiebreak 7‑2, and booked his place in the second round of the tournament. Looking ahead, Djokovic’s next opponent will be the local favorite Buyunchaokete Bu, who earned his spot by defeating Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo 6‑2, 5‑7, 6‑4.
Bu’s aggressive baseline game and familiarity with the conditions should provide an intriguing contrast to Djokovic’s experience and tactical precision. Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic admitted that the second set presented a physical challenge. “In the second set I started to feel the strain and had to fight to stay fresh,” he explained, noting that he had entered Beijing after disappointing early exits at both the US Open and the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati.
Despite the fatigue, he highlighted the importance of his serve, saying, “When I was serving I was in control, getting a high percentage of first serves made my service games much easier. I was able to close the tiebreak efficiently, and I’m very pleased with that.” At 39 years old, Djokovic’s resilience was on full display when the physio attended to him at 3‑2 down in the second set.
The treatment did not appear to hinder his performance; he went on to win his next two service games without dropping a point, showcasing some of the best tennis of the match. Throughout the contest there was only a single service break – Djokovic’s own break of Borges’ first serve – underscoring the tight nature of the encounter. In the decisive tiebreak, Djokovic surged ahead, creating four match points in rapid succession.
Borges managed to save three of them, but the Serbian finally clinched the match when Borges’ shot clipped the net. Commentator Annabel Croft described the contest as “very competitive towards the end,” adding that Djokovic’s service games became increasingly efficient as the match progressed.
She also noted the physical dimension of the battle, observing that Djokovic appeared uncomfortable at times but ultimately found a way to cross the finish line. Beyond the men’s singles, the tournament featured several noteworthy performances.
British player Katie Boulter opened her Beijing campaign with a convincing 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 the third meeting between the two in their careers and the second this season after Muchova’s straight‑sets win over Boulter at the US Open. On the men’s side, former US Open semifinalist Karen Khachanov continued his strong form by dispatching Felix Auger‑Aliassime 6‑3, 6‑3, further cementing his status as a contender in the Asian swing.
For fans wishing to follow the action, the China Open and the nearby ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters are available for live streaming on NOW and the Sky Sports app, offering contract‑free access to both ATP and WTA matches. The tournament not only provides a platform for established champions like Djokovic to reaffirm their dominance but also showcases emerging talents eager to make their mark on the world stage. With the competition heating up and the next rounds promising high‑stakes matchups, Beijing is set to deliver compelling tennis through the remainder of the event.