Novak Djokovic once again found himself wrestling with lingering fitness concerns as he battled back from a set down to stave off a second‑round defeat at the China Open on Friday. Facing world No. 104 wildcard Yunchaokete Bu, the Serbian champion slipped into an early 0-1 deficit before forcing a tiebreak in the second set.
Demonstrating his trademark resilience, Djokovic rallied to capture the final set, sealing a 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 triumph and extending his unbeaten run at the Beijing event to an impressive 31 matches. The Serbian star had been candid in August about an ongoing health issue, yet he insisted he felt "good" heading into the tournament.
Nevertheless, both of his opening matches displayed moments where his stamina appeared stretched. After his win over Portugal’s Nuno Borges, Djokovic admitted he "struggled a little bit to stay fresh," hinting at the physical challenges that have begun to surface in his later career.
Reflecting on the victory over Bu, Djokovic said, "I had to play very well and serve well at the right moments. He was so solid and I struggled to really find holes in his game. He was hitting his spots incredibly well with the serve and was mixing things up really well in the rallies from the back of the court, with some short slices, making me come in." His comments underline the tactical chess match that unfolded, with Bu’s aggressive early play forcing three break points at 3‑3 in the opening set. Djokovic managed to save each one, but a wayward one‑handed backhand that sailed beyond the baseline handed Bu a crucial break.
The first set concluded with Bu taking the lead, but the second set turned into a marathon of evenly matched points. Djokovic, despite showing signs of fatigue and even receiving on‑court treatment for a side issue, found an extra gear in the tiebreak. He surged ahead, converting the pressure into a 7‑2 tiebreak win that leveled the match and forced a decisive third set. In the final set, Djokovic’s experience and fitness reserves shone through.
He raced to a 4‑0 lead, dictating play with powerful serves and deep groundstrokes that left Bu scrambling. The Serbian’s momentum proved unstoppable, and he closed out the match, earning a quarter‑final berth against the winner of the Alexander Zverev versus Juncheng Shang encounter.
The Beijing tournament continued to deliver a mix of established stars and rising talents. In the men’s draw, Daniil Medvedev advanced to a second‑round showdown with Jan‑Lennard Struff after dispatching Pablo Carreno‑Busta 6‑4, 6‑2.
Fellow Russian Karen Khachanov also progressed, overcoming Alex Molcán 7‑5, 6‑3. Across the net in Japan, the Kinoshita Group Japan Open saw Artur Fils defeat Frances Tiafoe 6‑3, 7‑5, securing his place in the quarter‑finals and adding another notable upset to the week’s narrative. On the women’s side, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka announced her arrival in Beijing with a dominant 6‑1, 6‑3 victory over world No.
94 Renata Zarazua. Sabalenka unleashed a barrage of ferocious forehands and precise serving, racing to a 3‑0 lead early in the first set and later breaking Zarazua twice to seal the match. She will next face world No. 34 Nikola Bartunkova, promising another high‑octane encounter.
Naomi Osaka, returning to form after her recent New York campaign, endured a three‑set battle against Maria Timofeeva. After a comfortable first set win, Osaka’s rhythm faltered in the second, allowing Timofeeva to rally from a break down to claim five consecutive games and level the match. However, Osaka’s veteran composure resurfaced in the decider, where she surged ahead with five straight games, ultimately prevailing 6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑3.
"It was really tough," Osaka remarked. "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 hopeful Katie Boulter saw her tournament end in the second round, falling 7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑1 to world No. 8 Karolina Muchova.
The loss marked Boulter’s third defeat to Muchova this season, echoing a similar outcome at the US Open. Muchova praised Boulter’s effort, noting the narrow margin in the first set and the high quality of her opponent’s groundstrokes. After an early 4‑1 lead, Boulter allowed Muchova to claw back, with the Czech breaking to even the set at 4‑4 before clinching the tiebreak and then dominating the second set with two breaks, securing a third‑round clash with world No. 39 Liudmila Samsonova.
Overall, the China Open continued to showcase the depth of talent on both the ATP and WTA tours. While Djokovic’s fitness concerns remain a storyline to monitor, his ability to adapt, fight through adversity, and still produce high‑level tennis underscores why he remains a formidable contender even as his body demands more careful management. Fans can follow the remaining action live via streaming platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, which will broadcast the ATP Japan Open, the WTA/ATP China Open, and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters in the coming days.