Novak Djokovic made his return to competitive tennis in Beijing this year, marking his first appearance in the Chinese capital in more than a decade. The Serbian star extended his remarkable streak at the China Open to 30 straight wins after dispatching Portugal's Nuno Borges in the opening round on Wednesday.
Djokovic, who has hoisted the China Open trophy six times in his career, encountered a brief medical timeout in the second set but ultimately prevailed 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) to move into the tournament's second round. The match began with Djokovic establishing his dominance early, using his powerful serve and precise groundstrokes to keep Borges on the defensive.
He broke Borges' first service game, which turned out to be the only break of serve in the entire encounter. The Serbian's first-serve percentage was exceptionally high, allowing him to dictate play and conserve energy.
After taking the opening set 6-3, Djokovic faced a more resistant opponent in the second set. Borges raised his level, pushing the Serbian into a tighter contest that eventually led to a tiebreak. During the second set, Djokovic experienced a minor physical discomfort that forced him to call for a medical timeout when the score was 3-2 against him.
The on‑court physiotherapist attended to him promptly, and the brief pause seemed to have a restorative effect. After the timeout, Djokovic appeared rejuvenated, finding his rhythm on serve and returning with renewed vigor. He quickly regained control, winning his service games with relative ease and eventually taking a commanding lead in the tiebreak. In the tiebreak, Djokovic surged ahead, accumulating four match points in rapid succession.
Borges managed to save one of those opportunities by hitting a netted shot, but the Serbian quickly closed the match on the next point, sealing a 7-2 tiebreak win. After the match, Djokovic reflected on his performance, noting that his serving was a key factor: "When I was serving, I was dominating and going through my games quite comfortably. Getting those first serves in at a high percentage 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." The victory sets up a second‑round clash with home favourite Buyunchaokete Bu, who earned his place by defeating Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Bu, buoyed by the support of the local crowd, will present a different style of play, and Djokovic will need to stay focused to maintain his unbeaten run at the event.
Commentators highlighted the physical aspect of the match. Sky Sports' Annabel Croft described the contest as "really competitive" toward the end and praised Djokovic's ability to adapt: "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 featured a number of other noteworthy performances.
British player 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 third‑career meeting with seventh seed and Wimbledon finalist Karolina Muchova. Their previous encounter this year saw Muchova win in straight sets during the US Open second round, adding an extra layer of intrigue to their upcoming showdown.
On the men's side, former US Open semi‑finalist Karen Khachanov continued his strong form, dispatching Felix Auger‑Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 in a match that underscored his recent dominance over the Canadian. Khachanov's aggressive baseline play and effective serve‑and‑volley tactics left Auger‑Aliassime with limited opportunities to turn the tide. The China Open, part of the ATP 1000 series, runs concurrently with the Shanghai Masters, offering fans a week of high‑quality tennis across two major Chinese venues. Matches are being streamed live on the NOW platform and the Sky Sports app, providing viewers with contract‑free access to both WTA and ATP action.
For those seeking a more accessible video experience, the tournament recommends using the Chrome browser to ensure optimal playback. Djokovic, now 39, entered Beijing after disappointing early exits at the US Open and the ATP Masters 1000 event in Cincinnati. His swift adaptation to the conditions and his ability to overcome a brief physical setback suggest that he remains a formidable contender despite his age. As he prepares for his next match against Bu, the tennis world will be watching closely to see if he can continue his impressive run at the China Open and perhaps add another title to his already illustrious career.