Novak Djokovic once again demonstrated his tenacity at the China Open in Beijing, battling through lingering fitness concerns to stave off a second‑round defeat at the hands of Chinese wildcard Yunchaokete Bu, who is currently ranked No. 104 in the world. The Serbian legend fell behind early, losing the first set 4-6, but he rallied to force a tiebreak in the second set and ultimately secured a decisive 6-2 win in the third, completing a 4-6 7-6(7-2) 6-2 triumph that extended his unbeaten run at this event to 31 matches.
Earlier in August, Djokovic disclosed that he is managing a chronic health issue, yet he insisted that he felt "good" heading into the week’s competition. Despite his optimism, the opening rounds revealed moments where his stamina appeared compromised. After a hard‑fought victory over Portugal's Nuno Borges, he admitted that he "struggled a little bit to stay fresh" and that he had to rely heavily on precise serving and timing to stay competitive. Reflecting on his Friday win, Djokovic said, "I had to play very well and serve well at the right moments.
Bu was incredibly solid, and I found it difficult to locate any real weaknesses in his game. He was hitting his spots with his serve and mixing up his shots from the baseline, using short slices that forced me to come forward." The Serbian also noted that he needed medical attention on the side of the court during the second set, underscoring the physical toll the match was taking.
Bu started the encounter aggressively, pushing Djokovic to save three break points at 3‑3 in the opening set. The Serbian managed to hold his own, but a mis‑timed one‑handed backhand sent the ball beyond the baseline, handing Bu a crucial break point that eventually led to the first‑set win for the Chinese player.
The two competitors exchanged blows for roughly an hour, with neither able to pull away decisively. In the second‑set tiebreak, Djokovic found an extra gear, edging the breaker 7‑2 and forcing a deciding set despite showing visible signs of fatigue. The final set saw Djokovic unleash a surge of energy, racing to a 4‑0 lead before consolidating his advantage and closing out the match. His victory now sets up a quarter‑final clash against the winner of the Alexander Zverev versus Juncheng Shang encounter, promising another high‑stakes showdown.
Other notable results from Beijing included Daniil Medvedev advancing to a second‑round tie with Jan‑Lennard Struff after a straight‑sets win over Pablo Carreno‑Busta (6‑4 6‑2). Karen Khachanov also progressed, defeating Alex Molcán 7‑5 6‑3. Across the continent at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships, Artur Fils overcame Frances Tiafoe 6‑3 7‑5 to secure his place in the quarter‑finals, adding another compelling storyline to the Asian swing of the tour.
On the women's side, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka launched her China Open campaign with a commanding 6‑1 6‑3 win over world No. 94 Renata Zarazua.
Sabalenka displayed her trademark power from the outset, blasting a series of heavy groundstrokes to race to a 3‑0 lead. She broke Zarazua again to go up 5‑1, then served out the first set without dropping a point. The Belarusian continued her aggressive play in the second set, breaking early and sealing the match with a second break, ensuring a smooth passage to a third‑round meeting with world No.
34 Nikola Bartunkova. Four‑time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka faced a tougher test, needing three sets to overcome Maria Timofeeva. Osaka claimed the first set 6‑3, but her rhythm dipped in the second, allowing Timofeeva to break and win five consecutive games, leveling the match at one set all.
Osaka, however, drew on her experience and found a second wind in the decider, winning five straight games to close the contest 6‑3 3‑6 6‑3. After the match, Osaka remarked, "It was really tough. It was my first match since New York, so it was a little difficult getting my bearings.
She's a great player, and I think it was a great match." British contender Katie Boulter saw her run end in the second round after a 7‑6(7‑3) 6‑1 loss to world No. 8 Karolina Muchova. The result continued a pattern for Boulter, who has yet to defeat Muchova this season, having lost all three of their recent meetings, including a recent US Open clash. Muchova praised Boulter's effort, saying, "It was a very close match; we've played a few times this year.
This was a really tough battle. Boulter played great. She served really well and was hitting the ball very clean.
It was really just a few points difference in the first set." Muchova's victory was built on a strong start; she claimed the opening set in a tense tiebreak after both players exchanged high‑quality groundstrokes and Muchova produced a spectacular drop shot that left Boulter scrambling. With momentum on her side, Muchova accelerated in the second set, breaking Boulter twice to secure a 6‑1 win and a place in the third round against world No.
39 Liudmila Samsonova. These matches highlight the depth and drama of the China Open, where established stars and rising talents alike must navigate physical challenges, strategic adjustments, and the pressure of a packed tournament schedule.
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