Djokovic ends wait with gritty China Open win

Novak Djokovic returned to winning ways in Beijing with a hard-earned straight-sets victory over Nuno Borges at the China Open, ending his wait for a first match win since Wimbledon. It was not vintage Djokovic, but it was the kind of result that again underlined his resilience under pressure.

Djokovic finds a way in Beijing

The 39-year-old former world number one beat Borges 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) in one hour and 50 minutes, despite looking below his best for long stretches of the contest. Djokovic, playing at the China Open for the first time since 2015, stretched his back with his racquet between points and later took a medical timeout for treatment on his right shoulder.

Even so, he stayed composed when the match tightened in the second set. Borges pushed the Serbian star deeper into the contest, but Djokovic lifted his level in the tie-break and closed out the win with the sort of control that has defined so much of his career.

First win since Wimbledon, but more questions remain

The result marked Djokovic’s first victory since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in July. He has been open about the health issues that have affected him in hot and humid conditions over the past couple of years, and Beijing again tested both his body and his mentality.

There was no sense of free-flowing dominance from the 24-time Grand Slam champion, but there was plenty of competitive edge. That mattered most against a willing opponent like Borges, who forced Djokovic to work for every opening.

As Djokovic moves deeper into the event, the next challenge is a second-round meeting with Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete. The bigger picture is even more striking: he is now chasing a record-extending seventh China Open title, having previously won the tournament six times between 2009 and 2015.

A record pursuit in a familiar hunting ground

The Beijing event has long been one of Djokovic’s most productive stops on the ATP Tour. His 30th consecutive victory at the China Open extended a remarkable record at a tournament that has often brought out his best tennis.

That history adds weight to every match he plays here. Even when he is not at peak physical sharpness, Djokovic’s ability to absorb pressure and find solutions keeps him dangerous.

Former players and coaches often point to that quality as his greatest strength. As one tennis analyst might put it, the scoreboard can be imperfect, but the result rarely is when Djokovic is still standing at the end of a tight set.

Katie Boulter also advances

There was also success for Great Britain’s Katie Boulter in the women’s draw, as she moved into the second round with a straight-set win over Japan’s Mai Hontama. Boulter won 6-3, 6-4 and now faces Czech seventh seed Karolina Muchova.

Her victory added another positive British note to the day in Beijing, while Djokovic’s performance remained the headline act. The Serbian’s latest win was not a statement of dominance, but it was a reminder that champions often find a way even when conditions are far from ideal.

For Djokovic, the immediate takeaway is simple: the winning habit is back, and Beijing remains one of his safest strongholds. Whether the body allows him to go all the way is the next question, but the first step has already been taken.