Novak Djokovic marked his return to the China Open with a battling first-round win over Nuno Borges, beating the Portuguese 6-3 7-6(2) in one hour and 51 minutes to extend his perfect record at the Beijing event to 30-0.
The victory was Djokovic's first since his Wimbledon semi-final defeat to Jannik Sinner nearly three months ago, and it ended a run of three consecutive losses that had taken in Cincinnati, where he was upset by Thiago Agustin Tirante, and a first-round defeat to Francisco Navone at the US Open.
The sixth seed wasted little time settling in. He earned his first return-point opportunity in the second game and converted it immediately, moving into a 3-0 lead and protecting his advantage despite a wobble at 4-2, when he saved two break points from 15-40. He served out the first set 6-3 after 43 minutes.
The second set was far tighter, with both men holding serve comfortably until the closing stages. At 2-3 down, Djokovic called a medical timeout for problems with his back and stomach, the latest in a string of physical issues for the Serbian, who had been hampered by a medical problem against Navone in New York. He held to love on the resumption and broke for 5-4 after a backhand error from Borges, only for the Portuguese to save a break point at 40-40 and drag the match into a tie-break, with Djokovic conceding no set points along the way.
In the tie-break Djokovic was ruthless: he won the first three points, led 5-1 and closed it out 7-2 with a heavy backhand, sealing a win that returns him to the tournament where he has never lost.
Djokovic has won the China Open in all six of his previous appearances, in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015, the last of those against Rafael Nadal in the final. The sixth seed is now chasing a seventh title in the Chinese capital and the 102nd of his career, third behind Roger Federer's 103 and seven short of Jimmy Connors' 109.
Next up is a second-round meeting with home wildcard Bu Yunchaokete, the world No. 104 who eliminated Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-2 5-7 6-4. The 39-year-old left the packed Capital Group Diamond Arena to warm applause from all four sides of the court, but the physical questions will follow him through the draw.
Sources
- https://www.livetennis.it/post/472682/djokovic-torna-a-vincere-a-pechino-supera-borges-e-un-timeout-medico-il-suo-record-sale-a-30-0/
- https://www.ubitennis.com/blog/2026/09/30/atp-pechino-djokovic-torna-alla-vittoria-ma-resta-qualche-incognita/
