Novak Djokovic won his first match since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in July, defeating Portugal's Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6(7-2) at the China Open in Beijing on Wednesday. The 39-year-old sixth seed, playing the tournament for the first time since 2015, extended his unbeaten record at the event to 30 consecutive victories, according to BBC Sport.
How long has Djokovic struggled?
Djokovic had not won a match in nearly three months before facing Borges. The former world number one lost in the first round at Cincinnati to Thiago Agustin Tirante and then suffered a five-set collapse at the U.S. Open against Mariano Navone, according to Tennisuptodate.com. His return to Beijing represents a significant reset after what has been a difficult stretch for the Serb, who now sits at No. 11 in the rankings.
Djokovic required medical attention during the match, receiving treatment for his right shoulder during the second set. He revealed in August that he has been managing an underlying health condition that worsens in hot, humid conditions, according to BBC Sport. Despite the physical challenges, he recovered to win the tiebreak decisively.
What happened to Auger-Aliassime?
Canadian Félix Auger-Aliassime lost to Karen Khachanov 6-3, 6-3 in the opening round. Khachanov, who reached the U.S. Open semi-finals, has now beaten Auger-Aliassime twice in recent weeks, including their meeting at the U.S. Open, according to Yahoo! Sports Canada. Auger-Aliassime committed 11 unforced errors in the opening set and was broken in the third and final games of the second set.
Djokovic will face Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete in the second round. The Serb is bidding to win the China Open for a record-extending seventh time.
Sources
- BBC Sport: China Open: Novak Djokovic wins first match since Wimbledon. BBC Sport, 2026-09-30.
- Yahoo! Sports Canada: Novak Djokovic starts China Open with first win since July. Associated Press, 2026-09-30.
- Tennisuptodate.com: The Djokovic Factor: How his China Open return changes the entire Beijing draw. Tennisuptodate.com, 2026-09-30.
Reported from public sources.