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, facing world No. 104 wildcard Yunchaokete Bu. The Serbian champion slipped into a 0-1 deficit early, but he rallied to force a tiebreak in the second set and eventually sealed the match with a 4-6, 7-6(7-2), 6-2 victory, extending his unbeaten run at the Beijing tournament to 31 consecutive matches.
Earlier in August, Djokovic disclosed that he is managing a chronic health issue, yet he insisted he felt "good" heading into the week’s competition. Despite that optimism, both of his opening matches displayed moments where his stamina appeared compromised. After his win over Portugal's Nuno Borges, he admitted he "struggled a little bit to stay fresh" and that his movement was not as crisp as he would like.
Reflecting on his win 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 mixing things up in the rallies from the back of the court, using short slices that forced me to come in." The Serbian acknowledged that the Chinese opponent’s aggressive early play tested his physical limits, especially when he had to save three break points at 3‑3 in the opening set. Bu started the match with a high‑intensity approach, pushing Djokovic to the edge and creating several opportunities to break. The Serbian’s one‑handed backhand slipped beyond the baseline at a crucial moment, handing Bu a break point that eventually turned into a break.
The first set progressed tightly, with neither player able to dominate, and it concluded with Bu taking the set 6‑4. The second set saw Djokovic dig deeper. Although he looked fatigued and required on‑court treatment for a side issue, he managed to raise his level in the tiebreak, out‑fighting Bu 7‑2 to level the match.
This momentum shift was pivotal; Djokovic’s experience and tactical adjustments allowed him to dictate play, targeting Bu’s backhand and exploiting the occasional short balls. In the decisive third set, Djokovic seized control, racing to a 4‑0 lead. His serve found its rhythm, and his groundstrokes regained their usual depth and precision.
Bu tried to mount a comeback, but the Serbian’s superior fitness and mental resilience proved too much. Djokovic closed the match with a 6‑2 final set, earning a quarter‑final berth against the winner of the Alexander Zverev versus Juncheng Shang encounter.
The Beijing tournament also featured notable performances from other top players. Daniil Medvedev dispatched Pablo Carreno‑Busta 6‑4, 6‑2 to set up a second‑round clash with Jan‑Lennard Struff, while Karen Khachanov overcame Alex Molčan 7‑5, 6‑3.
Over at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open, Artur Fils defeated Frances Tiafoe 6‑3, 7‑5, securing 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 unleashed powerful groundstrokes from the outset, racing to a 3‑0 lead and then extending the margin to 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 meeting with world No. 34 Nikola Bartunkova. Four‑time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka endured a tougher path, needing three sets to overcome Maria Timofeeva.
Osaka claimed the first set 6‑3, slipped in the second as Timofeeva rallied to 3‑6, but rebounded in the decider, winning five consecutive games to seal a 6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑3 triumph. Osaka reflected, "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." Her victory advances her to a third‑round showdown with 20th seed Sara Bejlek.
British qualifier Boulter’s run ended in the second round after a 7‑6(7‑3), 6‑1 loss to world No. 8 Karolina Muchova. The match echoed their previous encounters this season, with Muchova maintaining a perfect record against Boulter. Muchova praised Boulter’s effort, noting the closeness of the first set and the quality of her opponent’s serving and clean ball striking.
After taking a quick 4‑1 lead, Boulter allowed Muchova to claw back, with the Czech eventually breaking to level at 4‑4 and then pulling ahead in the tiebreak. Muchova’s experience shone through as she broke Boulter twice in the second set, booking a third‑round tie against world No.
39 Liudmila Samsonova. Overall, the China Open continues to deliver high‑quality tennis, with seasoned champions battling emerging talents. Djokovic’s gritty comeback underscores his ability to adapt under physical duress, while the performances of Sabalenka, Osaka, and others highlight the depth of talent on the WTA and ATP tours.
Fans can follow the remaining matches live on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports App, which stream the ATP Japan Open, the WTA/ATP China Open, and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters without contractual restrictions.