Novak Djokovic Opens China Campaign Against Borges
Novak Djokovic meets Nuno Borges in Beijing as he seeks to extend his perfect China Open record.
Borges gets the opening assignment
Nuno Borges will face Novak Djokovic in the China Open first round. Djokovic carries a 100% record at the event. It is an ATP 500.
The Serbian has won the title in each of his six appearances, though he has not played in Beijing since 2015. That record gives this return a sharper edge, especially against a player ranked No. 41 who has gone 7-3 across his last ten completed matches.
Borges knows the scale of the task. He called Djokovic's record “crazy,” while suggesting it also adds to the expectations on the former champion.
Recent exits change the frame
Djokovic comes in after consecutive first-round defeats at his last two tournaments. Thiago Agustin Tirante beat him in Cincinnati before Mariano Navone ended his US Open.
Those results are unusual context for a player ranked No. 5, even if his recent completed record remains 6-4. Tirante, ranked No. 42, has also posted a 7-3 mark across his last ten matches, which gives that Cincinnati result extra shape.
The opening match now matters immediately. Djokovic's Beijing history remains imposing, but the margin for a slow start looks smaller after those recent losses.
A competitive previous meeting
Borges has played Djokovic once before, at the Hellenic Championships in Athens last year. Djokovic won in two tight sets, but Borges said he created late break-point chances in the opener.
The Portuguese player said he was close in that contest and sees room to push further this time, while accepting that Djokovic will demand a high level from the opening games. He also described the aura Djokovic brings into a locker room and onto court.
Still, Borges sounded composed. He said the matchup carries no pressure for him, and that he intends to enjoy the occasion rather than be distracted by Djokovic's standing.
A difficult route through Beijing
Djokovic is the sixth seed in a draw that offers little room to settle in. If he clears Borges, Juan Manuel Cerundolo is the likely second-round opponent.
Alexander Zverev, the US Open champion, could wait in the quarterfinals. Daniil Medvedev or Jakub Mensik are the projected semifinal obstacles should Djokovic advance through that part of the draw.
That path makes Borges more than a routine opener. Djokovic's event record is perfect, yet his current assignment comes against an opponent arriving with a better recent run and clear memories of a competitive prior match.
Court Shark win probabilities are statistical estimates, not advice. No outcome is guaranteed.
Methodology and sources
How we build model estimates and where our information comes from.
Sources and citations
Rankings and recent results for the players named come from the Court Shark match database. The story is public tennis news, written up by the desk in its own words.
Limitations
Player figures are a snapshot taken when the story was written and do not update after publication.
About the desk
Who writes the Journal and how an article is put together. Read about the desk
Editorial standards
What we publish, what we check and how we decide what is fit to print. Read our standards
Corrections
Spotted an error? Write to hello@courtshark.ai and we will correct it and note the change. Read the corrections policy