Novak Djokovic made his long‑awaited return to the Chinese capital, stepping onto the hard courts of Beijing for the first time in eleven years. The Serbian star continued his remarkable run at the tournament, extending his unbeaten streak at the China Open to an impressive thirty matches with a straight‑sets win on Wednesday.
Facing Portugal’s up‑and‑coming player Nuno Borges, Djokovic displayed the poise and precision that have become his trademark. After a solid first set that ended 6‑3, the match progressed to a tightly contested second set.
Despite needing a medical timeout midway through that set, the world‑class competitor managed to hold his nerve, ultimately clinching the tiebreak 7‑2 and sealing the match 6‑3, 7‑6. The victory propelled him into the second round of the event, where he will meet local favorite Buyunchaokete Bu, who earned his spot by overcoming Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerúndolo with a 6‑2, 5‑7, 6‑4 scoreline.
"In the second set he started playing better and I struggled a little bit physically to stay fresh," Djokovic admitted in the post‑match interview. The comment reflected the challenges he has faced recently, having suffered early exits at both the US Open and the ATP Masters 1000 tournament in Cincinnati. Nonetheless, the Serbian champion highlighted the strength of his service games: "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." At 39 years old, Djokovic’s resilience was on full display when he received treatment from the on‑court physiotherapist while trailing 3‑2 in the second set. The brief interruption did not appear to hinder his momentum; he quickly regained composure, delivering two consecutive love serves and showcasing some of the finest tennis of the evening.
Throughout the encounter, there was only a single service break – a decisive one by Djokovic early in Borges’ opening service game. The decisive tiebreak saw Djokovic surge ahead, rapidly amassing four match points. Borges managed to save three of them, but the Serbian finally closed the affair when Borges slipped on a net cord, handing Djokovic the final point.
Commentator Annabel Croft observed for Sky Sports Tennis, "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." Beyond the headline match, the tournament featured several other notable performances. British No.1 Katie Boulter kicked off her Beijing campaign with a convincing 6‑3, 6‑4 win over Japanese qualifier Mai Hontama.
Boulter’s next challenge will be a clash with seventh seed and Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova, marking the third career meeting between the two and the second this season after Muchova’s straight‑sets triumph over Boulter in the US Open’s second round. On the men’s side, former US Open semifinalist Karen Khachanov continued his impressive form, dispatching Felix Auger‑Aliassime 6‑3, 6‑3 in a match that underscored his powerful baseline play and tactical acumen. The China Open, part of the ATP 1000 series, continues to attract top talent from around the globe, offering fans high‑quality tennis in a vibrant setting.
Viewers can stream the action without a long‑term contract via NOW or the Sky Sports app, which provide live coverage of both the WTA and ATP events, including the parallel Shanghai Masters. Djokovic’s win not only marks his first triumph since his Wimbledon title but also signals a potential resurgence as he seeks to rebuild momentum ahead of the season’s final swing. His ability to adapt mid‑match, manage physical discomfort, and still deliver clutch performances bodes well for his aspirations to add more titles to his already storied career. As the tournament progresses, all eyes will be on the Serbian maestro to see whether he can translate this early success into deeper runs, perhaps even a title defense, while his opponents will be eager to test the limits of his famed resilience.
The Beijing crowd, known for its enthusiastic support of both local and international players, will undoubtedly play a pivotal role as the competition intensifies. With the next round promising a showdown between Djokovic and the crowd‑pleasing Bu, the stage is set for a compelling narrative that blends experience, youthful vigor, and the ever‑present quest for excellence on the world tennis circuit.