Sports · updated 1h ago · 1 min read
Novak Djokovic Beats Nuno Borges to Extend Unbeaten China Open Run in Beijing
Djokovic beat Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6(2) to go 30-0 at China Open. First China Open appearance since 2015, returning after eleven years.
Which body part was treated during the medical timeout.
6 of 7 outlets skipped it: djokovic says hot, humid conditions worsen an underlying issue.
17outlets compared
Same story, two versions
tap a side to read it in full
They diverge on the injury location, affecting interpretation of his fitness concerns.
Djokovic beats Borges
Novak Djokovic returned to the China Open after ten years and beat Portuguese Nuno Borges 6-3 and 7-6(2) to keep his unbeaten run in Beijing. Djokovic, who was 39, battled physical discomfort in the second set and needed a medical timeout to receive treatment to his right shoulder.
Djokovic finished the match in one hour and 50 minutes to set up a second-round meeting with wildcard Bu Yunchaokete of China. Djokovic extended his record to 30-0 at the Beijing tournament, where he has won six times, the last in 2015.
Health scare and tactics
Djokovic used his racquet to help stretch his back between games during the second set, and he needed a medical timeout to receive treatment to his right shoulder. A physiotherapist treated Djokovic while he was trailing 3-2 in the second set, and the treatment did not seem to affect his performance.
Djokovic saved two break points after a pair of double-faults to win the first set, and he clinched the match when Borges returned into the net. Djokovic won the tiebreak 7-2 after opening a 5-1 lead, and he finished with eight aces and won 88% of his first-serve points.
Next opponent and context
Bu Yunchaokete advanced to the round of 16 after defeating Argentine Juan Manuel Cerúndolo, setting up the next step for Djokovic in Beijing.
Djokovic’s return also came after his defeat to Argentine Mariano Navone in the first round of the U.S. Open on August 31, and it marked his first match since that loss.
Djokovic’s first match at the China Open since 2015 preserved his winning streak in Beijing, where he has never lost in 30 matches.
Djokovic’s next opponent was set for the round of 16, with the China Open matchups framed by the tournament’s local wildcard and the earlier Cerúndolo result.