Djokovic reveals which shot he needs the most right now

Novak Djokovic made friends with victory again today. It's hard to believe these terms when talking about a monster like the Serbian, but the summer drought is now behind him, and Nole regained his smile at the ATP Beijing 2026, where he debuted with a victory against Nuno Borges and extended his winning streak in this tournament to 30 consecutive victories. Only Monica Seles at the Australian Open and Rafa Nadal at Roland Garros have achieved better numbers before facing defeat: Nole's main goal, of course, will be to keep adding wins and extend that streak even further.

For this, several aspects need to be addressed. If his tennis wants to shine, there are areas that need to be at 100%, strokes that can give the Serbian the breath he needs as at 39 years, his body does not seem as reinforced as before. This is what Nole focused on during the post-victory press conference, revealing which stroke gave him a great competitive advantage today and why he needs to maintain it at this level in upcoming matches.

On the level in his first match back after the US Open: a full stadium to watch him in Beijing

"It was a pleasant surprise to see the stadium full for a first round. I remember playing here over eleven years ago, when people used to come in droves to watch tennis matches and their favorite players. They have a great passion for this sport, and in this city, a rich tradition. They proved it again today; they definitely exceeded my expectations (smiles). 

I am very grateful to be part of such an incredible atmosphere. It was electric, a full stadium. I was a bit nervous; I wanted to do really well and win the match: it was my first victory since Wimbledon. I am very happy to have overcome my first obstacle; it was a hard match, just as I expected. The crowd support was phenomenal."

Seeing Novak Djokovic suffer physically in every match is heartbreaking. 💔 pic.twitter.com/grrxdkKFDT

— Danny (@DjokovicFan_) September 30, 2026

Raised his level in important moments: match analysis, focusing on a stroke he needs

"Serving well and winning free points from the first serve, along with a high percentage of first serves in, makes life easier on the court; there's no doubt about that. I think I struggled a bit physically in the second set: I needed my serve. I managed to make it work, and it helped me in crucial moments, without a doubt. 

I believe that in the tiebreak my attitude was focused on going point by point, trying to achieve that minibreak, securing an early lead. I did that, and it helped me. When you get to 3-0, the mentality is different for both players. If you are down 0-3, you feel you need to do double to come back, to try to have a minimal chance. Once I was 3-0 up, I felt I was in control of the match. I rode that wave; my serve helped me, those first serves allowed me to win points quickly. 

At this level, if you have a great serve, the serve plus one, if you are efficient with all that, you gain a tremendous competitive advantage. From there, you can try to be a bit more aggressive in your returning games, which I attempted. I think he also played well, especially in the second set. In his service games, he was very aggressive, changing pace and attacking the lines well with his serve. I give him all the credit in the world; it was a high-quality match. I think people enjoyed and appreciated the level of tennis we provided."

Next opponent: Buyunchaokete, a Chinese player who will play at home

"Facing a Chinese player in China isn't much fun (smiles). We are going to have an electric atmosphere; he will have a lot of support, no doubt. At the same time, I like my chances when I'm playing at this level. I like my chances against everyone like this. I hope to be physically fresh. We will probably play in the evening session, we'll see. It's a bit cooler than during the first days of training. The ball slows down a bit, the bounce is lower, and that favors players like Bu, who likes it fast and flat, very aggressive near the line.

I've seen him play a bit. Yes, I will have to do my analysis; I faced Wu for the first time at Wimbledon. It's good to see Chinese players emerging and doing well. They have a lot of quality; it was just a matter of time before this country became a breeding ground for male talent because we already know that there are great champions on the women's side, and little by little, the men want to reach that level. It's important for a country like China, which invests a lot in tennis, to have players competing at the highest level. I'm glad to see them doing well. I hope things stop going well for Bu in a couple of days (smiles).

On the fervor and warmth he feels from Chinese fans

"What I have experienced throughout my career in China, with its fans, the interactions we have... I haven't found it anywhere else in the world. They have that passion, that loyalty, that commitment to me, and I see that other players have experienced something similar in the last 20 years... it's truly amazing.

They come and wait outside the hotel. They wait. They spend hours at the door just to see you, to interact with you, to get an autograph or a photo. It's wonderful. I always try to give back that respect and appreciation with a great performance on the court; that's why I'm here, but at the same time, I also try to do it off the court. I am very grateful for their support."

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, Djokovic desvela cuál es el golpe que más necesita en la actualidad