Novak Djokovic Survives Nuno Borges to Open His China Open Title Bid
- 🔑 Novak Djokovic opened his 2026 China Open campaign with a 6-3, 7-6(2) win over Portugal’s Nuno Borges on Wednesday, September 30, snapping a three-match losing streak and improving his all-time record at the Beijing event to a perfect 30-0 across six titles there.
- It is Djokovic’s first China Open appearance since 2015, an 11-year gap, when he beat Rafael Nadal in that year’s final for his sixth Beijing title; he skipped the September 25-27 Laver Cup in London, which Team Europe won, to prepare for this return instead.
- Djokovic needed a medical timeout for a back issue while trailing in the second set but recovered to win the tiebreak 7-2; the win followed recent first-round exits at the Cincinnati Open and the US Open and a Wimbledon semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner.
- His second-round opponent is Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete, ranked outside the ATP top 100, in a match set for October 2-3; a further win would set up a possible quarterfinal against top seed Alexander Zverev. No betting odds, spreads, or win-probability figures appear anywhere in this piece.
- Djokovic’s ranking sits at No. 11 with 2,980 points as of the ATP’s September 28 rankings, the first time he has been outside the world’s top 10 since 2018, after a first-round loss to Mariano Navone at the US Open.
- Elsewhere in the men’s draw, Karen Khachanov upset second-seeded Felix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 without facing a single break point, his second win over Auger-Aliassime in less than a month after also beating him at the US Open.
Novak Djokovic beat Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6(2) in the first round of the 2026 China Open on Wednesday, September 30, opening his return to Beijing with a win despite needing a medical timeout for his back. The victory snapped a three-match losing streak and kept alive his perfect all-time record at the tournament. Here’s where his title bid stands, who he plays next, and how the rest of the men’s draw is shaping up.
How Did Djokovic’s China Open Opener Go?
Djokovic defeated Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6(2) in one hour and 51 minutes to reach the second round. He took the first set comfortably, then trailed 2-3 in the second, when he called for a medical timeout to have his back treated courtside. He returned to close out the set in a tiebreak he won 7-2. It was his first match win since Wimbledon in July, snapping a stretch that had seen him lose his previous three matches.
Why Is This Djokovic’s First Beijing Appearance in 11 Years?
Djokovic had not played the China Open since 2015, when he beat Rafael Nadal in that year’s final for his sixth Beijing title — and Wednesday’s win extended his all-time record at the tournament to a perfect 30-0. He skipped the September 25-27 Laver Cup in London, which Team Europe went on to win, choosing instead to prepare for this return. Seeded No. 6 for the event, he’s using the National Tennis Center hardcourt week to try to rebuild momentum after a difficult summer.
Who Does Djokovic Play in the Second Round?
Djokovic’s next opponent is Bu Yunchaokete, a Chinese wildcard ranked outside the ATP top 100, in a match set for October 2-3. Bu reached the second round by outlasting Argentina’s Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. Djokovic said after his first-round win that he expects a loud, pro-Bu atmosphere from the home crowd.
Could Djokovic Face Alexander Zverev Later in the Draw?
If both keep winning, Djokovic’s side of the draw sets up a potential quarterfinal against top seed Alexander Zverev, the reigning US Open champion — though that matchup is still several rounds away for both men and nothing is decided yet. In matches the two have already played, Djokovic leads their ATP head-to-head series 9-5, most recently winning a four-set quarterfinal at the 2025 French Open.
| Round | Opponent | Status |
|---|---|---|
| R1 | Nuno Borges | Won 6-3, 7-6(2) |
| R2 | Bu Yunchaokete | Set for Oct 2-3 |
| QF* | Alexander Zverev | Not yet set |
*Only if both players advance through the rounds between now and then.
Where Does Djokovic’s Ranking Stand After a Rough Summer?
Djokovic is ranked No. 11 with 2,980 points in the ATP’s rankings released Monday, September 28 — the first time he’s been outside the world’s top 10 since 2018. He fell out of the top 10 after a five-set first-round loss to Argentina’s Mariano Navone at the US Open. That defeat capped a stretch that also included an upset loss to Thiago Agustín Tirante at the Cincinnati Open and a semifinal loss to Jannik Sinner at Wimbledon, sandwiched around a five-hour, 15-minute quarterfinal win over Félix Auger-Aliassime that stands as the longest match in Wimbledon history. Djokovic remains without a title in the 2026 season; winning in Beijing would make him the first man in the Open Era to claim at least one ATP title in 21 consecutive years, extending the record he already set with a title in each season from 2006 through 2025.
What Else Happened on the China Open’s Opening Day?
Karen Khachanov upset second-seeded Félix Auger-Aliassime 6-3, 6-3 without facing a single break point, his second win over the Canadian in less than a month after also beating him at the US Open. It was one of the tournament’s biggest first-round results and knocked out one of the event’s four top seeds before the opening day was even over.
Djokovic’s run through the rest of the men’s draw, which continues through October 6, will decide whether he gets that potential shot at Zverev and a first title of the 2026 season. We’ll keep tracking the bracket as it develops; for how Djokovic’s September went without him, see our Laver Cup 2026 recap .