Novak Djokovic marked his return to the China Open with a hard-fought straight-set victory over Nuno Borges, preserving his flawless historical record in the tournament. Stepping onto the court for his first competitive match since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in July, the Serbian tennis star sealed a 6-3 7-6 (7-2) victory to progress to the second round in Beijing.
Physical Hurdles During the Second Set
The 39-year-old former world number one had to endure physical discomfort during the contest, particularly in a testing second set. Between games, Djokovic was seen using his racquet to help stretch his back as tension mounted on the court. His physical struggles also required a medical timeout to receive targeted treatment on his right shoulder from tournament medical staff.
Despite the physical hindrances, the 24-time Grand Slam champion held his nerve across the one-hour and 50-minute encounter. During the decisive second-set tiebreak, Djokovic elevated his game to comfortably take it 7-2, preventing the match from heading into a third set. The victory sets up a second-round showdown with Chinese wildcard entry Bu Yunchaokete.
A 30-Match Winning Streak in Beijing
Djokovic holds a remarkable history at the China Open, having lifted the trophy six times during his appearances between 2009 and 2015. Competing at this event for the first time in 11 years, his triumph over Borges marked his 30th consecutive victory in Beijing. With this win, Djokovic continues his quest to capture a record-extending seventh China Open crown.
Katie Boulter Advances in Women's Draw
In the women's singles tournament, Great Britain's Katie Boulter secured her place in the second round with a clinical performance. The 30-year-old eliminated Japan's Mai Hontama in straight sets, recording a 6-3 6-4 victory. Boulter will now turn her attention to a second-round clash against Czech seventh seed Karolina Muchova.
