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 the Beijing title six times, faced Portugal’s Nuno Borges in the opening round. Despite taking a medical timeout early in the second set, Djokovic rallied to claim a 6‑3, 7‑6 (7‑2) triumph and move into the second round of the tournament. The next opponent on Djokovic’s schedule is local favorite Buyunchaokete Bu, who earned his place by defeating Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6‑2, 5‑7, 6‑4.
Bu’s victory set up a classic showdown between the seasoned world number one and a hungry home crowd representative. Reflecting on his performance, Djokovic admitted that the second set presented a physical challenge.
"In the second set he started playing better and I struggled a little bit physically to stay fresh," he said, acknowledging the effort required to stay sharp after a tough first set. The Serbian veteran arrived in 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 asked about his service game, Djokovic explained, "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." His high first‑serve percentage indeed proved decisive, allowing him to dictate points and keep pressure on Borges throughout the match. At 39 years old, Djokovic faced a brief medical interruption when his physio attended to him at 3‑2 down in the second set.
The treatment did not appear to impede his momentum; he quickly recovered, delivering two consecutive service games that he won without dropping a point, showcasing a level of tennis that many commentators described as among his best of the evening. The match featured only a single service break, which came from Djokovic in Borges’ opening service game. The Serbian’s ability to hold serve consistently forced the tie‑break into a decisive arena where he surged ahead, creating four match points in rapid succession.
Borges managed to rescue one point by hitting the net, but Djokovic sealed the victory with a final, unchallenged point. Annabel Croft, speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, praised the competitiveness of the encounter, noting, "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." Her analysis highlighted the blend of resilience and tactical serving that enabled the champion to overcome physical discomfort. In other Beijing action, British No. 1 Katie Boulter opened her 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. This will be the third meeting between the two players in their careers and the second this season, following Muchova’s straight‑sets win over Boulter in the second round of the US Open. Meanwhile, former US Open semi‑finalist Karen Khachanov continued his impressive run by dispatching Felix Auger‑Aliassime 6‑3, 6‑3, reinforcing his status as a formidable contender in the men’s draw. Fans can follow the ongoing drama of the China Open and the adjacent ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters through live streams on NOW and the Sky Sports app, which offer contract‑free access to both WTA and ATP action.
The tournament continues to attract top talent and deliver high‑quality tennis, with Beijing serving as a pivotal stop on the Asian swing of the professional circuit. Overall, Djokovic’s win not only marks his first triumph since Wimbledon but also reaffirms his enduring dominance at the China Open.
His ability to adapt, recover from a brief medical setback, and execute a near‑perfect service game underscores why he remains a perennial favorite in any tournament he enters. As the event progresses, all eyes will be on his upcoming match against the enthusiastic local crowd, where the blend of experience and home‑court energy promises an exciting contest.