Djokovic wins on Beijing return as Boulter advances in China Open

Novak Djokovic beat Portugal's Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) in the first round of the China Open in Beijing on 30 September. It was his first win since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in July. It was also his 30th win in a row at this tournament, according to BBC Sport.

Djokovic took the first set with a single break of serve, a game won against the server. Borges held firm in the second. Then Djokovic ran away with the tiebreak, the first-to-seven shootout used when a set reaches 6-6, taking it 7-2.

This is Djokovic's first appearance in Beijing since 2015. He had arrived with a 29-0 record at this ATP 500 event, the tour's mid-level tournaments below the Masters, after titles in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He is now bidding for a record-extending seventh crown.

Next up is Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete, a player handed a free place in the draw by the organisers. Djokovic said before the tournament his body was feeling good ahead of his comeback, Reuters reported. After beating Borges he admitted being surprised by the warmth of the Chinese crowd, according to Yahoo Sports.

The two men had met only once before. Djokovic won that match 7-6(1), 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the 2025 Athens Open, then went on to lift the title for his 101st career trophy. The 24-time Grand Slam winner looked happy to be back on a court where he has never lost.

Katie Boulter kept British interest alive in the women's draw with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Japan's Mai Hontama to reach the second round. She will now face Czech seventh seed Karolina Muchova. The seeding protects the top players from meeting each other early, so that is a sharp step up.

What makes this stand out is patience. Eleven years away. Two months without a win. Djokovic waited for his moments and took them cleanly. For fans, this means a familiar force is back in the title race.