Novak Djokovic’s First-Round Opponent Sends Him ‘Even More Pressure’ Warning Ahead of China Open Clash

Novak Djokovic will be seen in action on September 30 in the ATP 500 China Open. He will be playing a match for the first time since his five-set defeat to Mariano Navone in the US Open first round.

Up against him in the first round will be Nuno Borges, who also met him in the quarterfinals of last year’s Hellenic Championship, which he won after two tough sets. In Beijing, Djokovic has never lost a match and holds a perfect 29-0 record, having won six titles here, most recently in 2015.

That’s crazy. Maybe even more pressure for him. I remember him indoors and on hard courts in general. I think he’s been very, very solid, with a crazy winning record. In some way it doesn’t surprise me, but it’s still an incredible stat. I had a good match against him and had some break points late in the first set, if I’m not mistaken.

Nuno Borges said (H/T: Tennis365)

The 24-time Grand Slam champion will be in Beijing for the first time since 2015. The China Open is also his first ATP 500 tournament of the season. Before arriving in the Chinese capital, he played the four Grand Slam events and three Masters 1000s.

I was right there. I don’t see why I can’t push a little bit more. I know it’s a very big challenge. He’ll make me play very well from the start. There’s no pressure for me. I’ll try to enjoy it as much as I can. You still feel that aura. He’s still representing himself very well, so I don’t think he’s losing that.

Nuno Borges added

The last time he won a match was in the Wimbledon quarterfinals against Felix Auger-Aliassime. After his defeat to eventual champion Jannik Sinner in the semifinals, he lost in the opening round of the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open.

The 39-year-old last won a title at the 2025 Hellenic Championship. Since then, he has played just one final, at this year’s Australian Open, losing it to Carlos Alcaraz. He reached the final after defeating Sinner, the reigning champion in Beijing, but withdrew due to a knee injury.

Qinwen Zheng shares Novak Djokovic’s Grand Slam advice

Qinwen Zheng will also compete at the China Open, a WTA 1000 event on the women’s tour. The home favorite will kick off her campaign against countrywoman Shi Han. Ahead of the tournament, Zheng, who played an exhibition event with Novak Djokovic in Melbourne last year, shared advice Nole gave her about winning Grand Slam titles.

The last time I spoke with Djokovic, he told me something very interesting: ‘You have to keep knocking on that door at every Grand Slam. If you keep playing at a high level, maybe it won’t work at the first Grand Slam, maybe not at the second either, but if you keep knocking on the door, it will eventually open, and one of them will be yours.’

When asked whether her Grand Slam goal had changed, Qinwen mentioned what Djokovic told her.

She called him "Xiao De"😂
("Xiao De" is the chinese nickname for Djokovic) pic.twitter.com/Z2bn10Jlny

— MomoWen (@JNQW20021008) September 29, 2026

Both Zheng and Djokovic last lifted a Big Title at the 2024 Paris Olympics. It was, in fact, Zheng’s first Big Title of her career.

Before arriving in Beijing, the 23-year-old played in the quarterfinals of the US Open, where she lost in three sets to eventual champion Elena Rybakina. Zheng won both her third-round and fourth-round matches against Madison Keys and Iga Swiatek, respectively, after overcoming a 0-5 deficit.

Zheng last won a Grand Slam title at the 2024 Pan Pacific Open. She then lost the title clash of the 2024 WTA Finals to Coco Gauff and has yet to reach another tour-level final.

Also read: Patrick Mouratoglou Makes ‘Bored’ and ‘Tired’ Claims About Carlos Alcaraz After His Decision to Play Laver Cup