Novak Djokovic marked his return to competitive tennis with a hard-fought straight-set victory over Portugal's Nuno Borges at the China Open in Beijing. The match represented the veteran champion's first triumph on the tour since his run to the Wimbledon semi-finals back in July.
The 39-year-old extended his historic winning streak at the Beijing tournament, maintaining an undefeated record that dates back more than a decade. Djokovic claimed a 6-3 7-6 victory in a contest lasting one hour and fifty minutes, securing his thirtieth consecutive match win at the venue despite a lengthy absence from the event.
The twenty-four-time Grand Slam champion encountered physical difficulties during the encounter, particularly as the match progressed into the second set. The former world number one was seen stretching his back with his racket between games and subsequently required a medical timeout for treatment on his right shoulder. These struggles compound recent health challenges, as the player disclosed earlier in the year that he has been managing an underlying physical condition exacerbated by high temperatures and humidity.
With this opening-round hurdle cleared, the top-tier competitor advances to face local wildcard entry Bu Yunchaokete in the next round. Djokovic is pursuing a seventh career title at the tournament, which would further extend his own record at the prestigious hard-court event.
Elsewhere in the tournament draws, British competitor Katie Boulter advanced to the second round of the women's competition. The thirty-year-old secured a straightforward 6-3 6-4 win against Japan's Mai Hontama. Boulter's progression sets up a challenging upcoming fixture against the tournament's seventh-seeded player, Karolina Muchova of the Czech Republic.
Reporting based on coverage first published by BBC Sport. Read the original report at BBC Sport.
