Djokovic wins China Open opener to claim first victory since July

Novak Djokovic maintained his flawless record at the China Open by beating Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6 (2) on Wednesday in Beijing. The win marked his first victory since the Wimbledon quarterfinals on July 7, following a first-round loss at the U.S. Open on August 31.

Match Details

Djokovic extended his perfect record to 30-0 at the Beijing tournament, which he has won six times previously between 2009 and 2015, though this is his first appearance at the event in 11 years. He needed a medical timeout during the second set at 3-2 down to receive treatment for his right shoulder from a physio, and used his racquet to stretch his back between games. According to the BBC, he revealed in August that he deals with an underlying health condition causing issues in hot and humid conditions. Despite this, he did not appear hindered, holding his next two service matches to love and securing the win in one hour and 50 minutes.

Next Steps

There was only one break of serve during the main match, by Djokovic in Borges' first service game. Djokovic raced ahead in the tiebreak to rack up four match points, sealing the victory when Borges hit a backhand into the net. The 24-time Grand Slam champion will now face wildcard Bu Yunchaokete of China in the second round. Meanwhile, Karen Khachanov beat Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3, and Great Britain's Katie Boulter defeated Mai Hontama 6-3, 6-4 to reach the women's second round.

Context

Tennis players often face physical struggles during tournaments held in hot and humid weather, which can require mid-match medical treatments and strategic use of timeouts. Early-round matches in major tournaments frequently set up tougher challenges as players advance deeper into the draw. The China Open remains a historic hunting ground for top players seeking late-season momentum.