Novak Djokovic successfully returned to the China Open on Wednesday, securing a 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) win over Portugal’s Nuno Borges. The victory extends the 39-year-old Serbian’s flawless record in Beijing, where he remains undefeated across 30 matches. Though this marked his first appearance at the tournament since 2015, Djokovic remains a crowd favorite, having claimed six titles at the venue previously. Novak Djokovic held his nerve during a tense tie-break to beat Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6 (7/2) at the China Open on Wednesday, extending his extraordinary unbeaten streak in Beijing. The 39-year-old Serbian was struggling physically but pushed through the second-set decider for his first win at any event since Wimbledon in July. A firm favourite in China who has never lost in Beijing in 30 matches — although this was his first match at the event since 2015, fans packed the stands in Beijing to watch Djokovic. He delighted the crowd with an ace to end the first game and saved two break points after a pair of double-faults to win the first set.
The match was not without challenges for the former world number one, who faced physical setbacks throughout the contest. Djokovic struggled with his movement early in the second set, frequently using his racquet to stretch his back and eventually requiring a medical timeout to treat his right shoulder. Despite these difficulties, he maintained composure to close out the match in one hour and 50 minutes, ending the contest when Borges hit the ball into the net.
Reflecting on his return, Djokovic described Beijing as his “happy place,” noting that the atmosphere and playing conditions align well with his style of play. He acknowledged his evolution as an athlete, stating, “Obviously I’m a completely different person and player than I was 11 years ago when I played here last but thankfully I kept the streak going and hopefully I can do it again.” He is now slated to face wildcard entrant Bu Yunchaokete in the next round.
Earlier in the day, Karen Khachanov delivered a dominant performance to eliminate second seed Felix Auger-Aliassime. The world number 26 dispatched the Canadian in straight sets, 6-3, 6-3, completing the victory in just 71 minutes. Khachanov, who recently triumphed at the US Open, displayed high efficiency by breaking his opponent on the first match point opportunity.
Khachanov dismissed the idea that he has a psychological edge over the Canadian, noting that playing in Beijing presents a unique set of circumstances. “It was a tough match,” the Russian said. “When you approach this match you are thinking it’s a completely new match, completely different. In China, in Beijing. Different court, different balls.” He will next compete against either France’s Arthur Rinderknech or Slovakian qualifier Alex Molcan.
Tournament top seed Alexander Zverev is set to begin his campaign on Thursday against Cameron Norrie. As the 29-year-old German navigates the ongoing competition, he stated that his primary focus remains on his preparation rather than the current battle for the world number one ranking. “Everything else will fall into place,” he added. The event in Beijing continues alongside a concurrent 1000-level WTA tournament.
