Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Novak Djokovic’s medical woes have resurfaced at the China Open but they didn’t stop him maintaining his flawless record at the China Open after he needed a timeout during his first round match.
The sixth seed beat Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6-3 7-6 (7-2) for his first victory since July 7 in the Wimbledon quarter-finals.
The 39-year-old extended his record to 30-0 at the Beijing tournament, which he has won six times, the last in 2015.
It was Djokovic’s first match since a first-round, five-set loss to Mariano Navone at the US Open on August 31 when he vomited off-court, cramped, and broke down in tears.
He revealed after that match that he’s been managing a chronic health condition that causes acute physical distress
On his return on Wednesday, he was treated on court by a physio at 3-2 down in the second set, but he didn’t appear to be hindered by the undisclosed issue as he saw out his next two service matches to love and played some of his best tennis of the match after the medical timeout.
There was only one break of serve during the match, by Djokovic in Borges’ first service game.
Djokovic raced ahead in the tiebreak and swiftly racked up four match points. He needed only one as Borges hit a backhand into the net.
Earlier, US Open semi-finalist Karen Khachanov continued his recent domination of Felix Auger-Aliassime, winning 6-3 6-3.
Khachanov also won their contest at the US Open en route on to the semi-finals, where he lost to eventual champion Alexander Zverev.
In Beijing, Khachanov had the only break of the opening set but was helped by 11 unforced errors by Auger-Aliassime.
In the second set, Khachanov broke the Canadian’s serve in the third game and again in the final game of the match with four consecutive points.
