Novak Djokovic once again found himself wrestling with lingering fitness concerns as he fought back from a set down to stave off a second‑round defeat at the China Open on Friday, eventually prevailing over Chinese wildcard Yunchaokete Bu, who is ranked No. 104 in the world. The Serbian champion slipped into an early 0-1 deficit, but he rallied to force a tiebreak in the second set and then seized control in the decisive third, sealing a 4-6, 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 victory. This win extended his unbeaten run at the Beijing event to an impressive 31 matches, underscoring his ability to win even when his body is not at full capacity.
Earlier in August, Djokovic disclosed that he is managing a chronic health issue, yet he insisted he felt "good" heading into the tournament. The match against Bu, however, suggested that the condition still exacts a toll. In his opening round against Portugal's Nuno Borges, Djokovic admitted he "struggled a little bit to stay fresh," and those words proved apt again in Beijing.
Throughout the first two sets he appeared to lose a step, needing occasional medical attention on the court side, but he compensated with sharp serving and strategic point construction. After the win, Djokovic reflected on the challenge: "I had to play very well and serve well at the right moments.
Bu was incredibly solid, and I found it hard to locate any real weaknesses in his game. He was hitting his spots with precision on serve and varied his groundstrokes from the back of the court, mixing in short slices that forced me to come forward." His assessment highlights Bu's aggressive approach, which forced Djokovic to save three break points at 3‑3 in the opening set. The Serbian eventually slipped on a one‑handed backhand that drifted beyond the baseline, handing Bu a break and the first set.
The second set was a marathon of rallies and tactical adjustments. Neither player could break the other's rhythm, and the set progressed to a tiebreak. Despite visible fatigue, Djokovic dug deep, raising his intensity and clinching the tiebreak 7‑2, thereby resetting the match for a final set.
At this point, he received treatment for a side issue, but the intervention seemed to revitalize him. He surged ahead, racing to a 4‑0 lead in the third set and never looking back, ultimately booking a quarter‑final clash against the winner of the Alexander Zverev versus Juncheng Shang encounter. The Beijing tournament featured several other noteworthy results.
Daniil Medvedev dispatched Pablo Carreno‑Busta 6‑4, 6‑2 to set up a second‑round meeting with Jan‑Lennard Struff, while Karen Khachanov overcame Alex Molčan 7‑5, 6‑3. In Japan, at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open, Artur Fils defeated Frances Tiafoe 6‑3, 7‑5 to secure his place in the quarter‑finals. On the women's side, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka opened 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, then breaking again to go up 5‑1 before serving out the first set.
She maintained her aggressive posture in the second set, breaking Zarazua early and closing the match with another break, setting up a future showdown with world No. 34 Nikola Bartunkova.
Four‑time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka also endured a demanding three‑set battle, ultimately prevailing 6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑3 over Maria Timofeeva to advance to the third round. Osaka admitted the match was "really tough" and noted it was her first competitive outing since New York, making it challenging to find her rhythm.
After a comfortable first set, Osaka's momentum dipped in the second as Timofeeva rallied from a break down to win five consecutive games and level the match. Nevertheless, Osaka found a second wind in the decider, stringing together five straight games to close out the contest and earn a tie against 20th seed Sara Bejlek. British contender Katie Boulter's run ended in the second round when she fell 7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑1 to world No. 8 Karolina Muchova.
The loss marked Boulter's third defeat to Muchova this season, the most recent occurring at the US Open. Muchova praised Boulter's effort, noting the match was "very close" and that Boulter served well and hit clean shots, but a few crucial points swung the first set in Muchova's favor. Boulter had started strongly, racing to a 4‑1 lead, but Muchova rallied, breaking to equalize at 4‑4 and eventually taking the tiebreak.
In the second set, Muchova accelerated, breaking Boulter twice to secure a place in the third round against world No. 39 Liudmila Samsonova.
These results illustrate the depth and unpredictability of the China Open field, where seasoned veterans like Djokovic and Sabalenka demonstrate resilience, while emerging talents such as Bu and Timofeeva push established stars to the brink. The tournament also serves as a barometer for players' physical conditions ahead of the season‑ending Asian swing, with many using Beijing as a final opportunity to fine‑tune form before the Shanghai Masters and the ATP Finals. Fans can follow the action live on streaming platforms that offer contract‑free access, such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, which broadcast both the ATP Japan Open and the WTA/ATP China Open, as well as the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters.
The combination of high‑stakes matches, comeback narratives, and emerging storylines makes the Beijing event a compelling showcase of modern tennis talent.