Novak Djokovic defeated Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6(2) in the first round of the China Open on Wednesday evening in Beijing, claiming his first victory since the Wimbledon quarterfinals on July 7. The 39-year-old Serb extended his unbeaten run in the Chinese capital to 30 matches, a record unmatched in the sport's history at a single venue.
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A medical timeout that raised concerns
The first set went smoothly for Djokovic, who looked sharp on serve and aggressive on return. The tone shifted early in the second set: trailing 2-3, the Serb called for a medical timeout to receive treatment on his right shoulder. The trainer spent considerable time working on the joint while the National Tennis Center crowd held its breath. Concerns about Djokovic's physical durability, already heightened after his shock first-round exit at the US Open in late August, resurfaced during the interruption.
A spectacular response after treatment
What followed, however, was reassuring. Freed up by the trainer's intervention, Djokovic held his next two service games to love and produced his best tennis of the evening in the tiebreak, sealing it 7-2 without offering Borges a single opening. The match ended after one hour and 50 minutes when the Portuguese hit a return into the net.
What it means going forward
Djokovic will face China's Bu Yunchaokete in the second round, a wildcard who pulled off a surprise first-round win over Juan Manuel Cerundolo (6-2, 5-7, 6-4). The home crowd will rally behind the young Chinese player, but Djokovic's record in Beijing speaks for itself: six titles in six appearances between 2009 and 2015, and now 30 consecutive wins at the venue.
The shoulder question lingers. While Djokovic appeared to regain full freedom of movement after treatment, the recurring nature of his physical setbacks this season remains a concern. The Shanghai Masters 1000, starting next week, will present a far more demanding test.
Key numbers: Djokovic now owns 30 consecutive victories in Beijing, a perfect run dating back to 2009. At 39, he remains the sixth seed in the draw and is chasing qualification for the ATP Finals in Turin this November.
