Djokovic wins first match since Wimbledon in China
Novak Djokovic beats Nuno Borges at the China Open to secure his first win since reaching the Wimbledon semi-finals in July.
Novak Djokovic continued his unbeaten streak at the China Open, defeating Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6 (7-2) to secure his first victory since Wimbledon in July. The 39-year-old, a 24-time Grand Slam champion, had not played in the tournament since 2015. Struggling in the second set, Djokovic battled through to win in one hour and 50 minutes, marking his 30th consecutive victory in Beijing.
However, he acknowledged dealing with an underlying health condition that has been problematic in hot, humid conditions for the past few years. During the match, Djokovic used his racquet to stretch his back and required a medical timeout for treatment of his right shoulder. He will face wildcard Bu Yunchaokete of China in the next round, aiming to win the China Open for a seventh time.
Meanwhile, Great Britain's Katie Boulter advanced to the second round of the women's draw with a 6-3, 6-4 win over Mai Hontama of Japan. Boulter will next play Czech seventh seed Karolina Muchova.
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