Novak Djokovic made his long‑awaited return to the Beijing courts eleven years after his previous appearance, extending his remarkable streak at the China Open to thirty straight wins on Wednesday. The Serbian star, who has claimed the title in the Chinese capital six times, faced Portugal's Nuno Borges in the opening round. After a brief medical timeout in the second set, Djokovic rallied to capture the match 6-3, 7-6 (7-2), earning a place in the tournament's second round.
Looking ahead, Djokovic's next opponent will be the local favorite Buyunchaokete Bu, who secured his own passage by defeating Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Bu's aggressive baseline play and home‑court support make him a challenging prospect for the world number one. "In the second set he started playing better and I struggled a little bit physically to stay fresh," Djokovic admitted after the win.
The 39‑year‑old entered Beijing after disappointing early exits at both the US Open and the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati, where he was unable to advance beyond the opening round. "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 added.
During the second set, Djokovic fell behind 3-2 and received treatment from his physiotherapist on court. Despite the interruption, he appeared unfazed, delivering two consecutive service games that he held without losing a point.
His resilience was evident as he broke Borges' serve only once, early in the first service game, and then maintained that advantage throughout the remainder of the match. The tie‑break proved decisive. Djokovic surged ahead, creating four match points in quick succession.
However, only one was needed when Borges inadvertently struck the net with his shot, ending the contest. The Serbian's composure in the crucial moments underscored his enduring mental toughness. Commentator Annabel Croft, speaking to Sky Sports Tennis, described the encounter as "really competitive" toward the end. "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," she noted, highlighting the physical challenges the veteran faced. Beyond the men's draw, the women's tournament also delivered noteworthy performances.
Katie Boulter opened her Beijing campaign with a solid 6-3, 6-4 win over Japanese qualifier Mai Hontama. The British No.
1 will now meet seventh seed and Wimbledon runner‑up Karolina Muchova in the next round. This will be the third career meeting between Boulter and Muchova, and the second this season after Muchova dispatched Boulter in straight sets during the second round of the US Open. On the ATP side, Russian star Karen Khachanov continued his recent dominance over Canadian talent Felix Auger‑Aliassime, cruising to a 6-3, 6-3 victory.
Khachanov's powerful groundstrokes and effective serve placement left Auger‑Aliassime with few opportunities to turn the tide, reinforcing Khachanov's rising confidence as he looks to climb the rankings. The China Open, part of the ATP 1000 series, offers fans a blend of high‑stakes matches and emerging talent. Viewers can stream the action without a contract through platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, which provide live coverage of both the ATP and WTA events, including the concurrent Shanghai Masters. Overall, Djokovic's triumph in Beijing signals a potential resurgence after a challenging start to the season.
His ability to overcome physical discomfort, maintain a high first‑serve percentage, and execute under pressure in a tie‑break showcases why he remains a formidable competitor on the tour. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on his upcoming clash with Bu, while the women's draw promises further excitement with Boulter's encounter against Muchova and other top contenders vying for the title.