Novak Djokovic returns to Beijing for the first time in 11 years looking to revive his season against Nuno Borges
Match News and Form
Nuno Borges lost some of his usual consistency during the first half of 2026 but has steadied the ship in recent months, starting with the grass swing and building further momentum during the US Open swing. That revival helped him move his season record into positive territory and return to the Top 50, and he now arrives in Asia looking to build further on that progress. He makes his Beijing debut this week, a slight surprise given his successful Asian swing last year, which began with an appearance in Tokyo.
Novak Djokovic struggled early in the season and has shown increasing signs of decline, particularly physically. Those concerns have only grown in recent weeks, as he played just two tournaments during the US Open swing and suffered opening-round defeats on both occasions, losing to Thiago Agustin Tirante in Cincinnati and Mariano Navone at the US Open. In both matches, he was physically outlasted by lower-ranked opponents, raising further questions about whether he can regain his physical condition and return to competing for the biggest titles.
If his recent defeats have shown anything, it is that Djokovic may no longer have the luxury of selectively entering tournaments and immediately raising his level to become a title contender. His decision to compete in Beijing this week could indicate that he has recognized the need for more match time and momentum. It is his first appearance outside the Grand Slams and Masters 1000 events this year, and his first in Beijing since 2015. The tournament also provides an ideal setting for him to rebuild his confidence, having won the title on all six of his previous appearances.
Head to Head: Novak Djokovic leads 1-0
They met in Athens last year, where Djokovic had to work hard for a 7-6, 6-4 win.
Stats and Facts
Nuno Borges played six matches during last year's Asian swing and won four of them.
Borges has lost seven of his 10 matches against Top 20 players this year.
The last time Djokovic entered a tournament as a non-Top 10 player was at Wimbledon in 2018, where he went on to win the title.
Djokovic has lost just three sets across his previous six appearances at ATP Beijing.
Betting Analysis
Novak Djokovic is certainly more vulnerable at the moment and has given his opponents a clear playbook: do not be intimidated by his name or reputation, stay in the match, compete hard and force him to work physically, which has exposed some of his physical shortcomings. Those weaknesses are quite obvious at the moment, but despite those concerns, his exceptional record during the Asian swing, particularly in Beijing, makes it difficult to look past him for the win here.
