Novak Djokovic once again found himself grappling with lingering fitness challenges as he fought back from a set down to stave off a second‑round defeat at the China Open on Friday. The Serbian star, ranked among the sport's elite, fell behind 0-1 against Chinese wildcard Yunchaokete Bu, who entered the tournament ranked world No.
104. Despite the early setback, Djokovic rallied to force a tiebreak in the second set and ultimately secured a hard‑earned three‑set victory, 4-6 7-6(7-2) 6-2, extending his unbeaten run at the Beijing event to an impressive 31 matches. In August, Djokovic disclosed that he was managing a chronic health issue, but he insisted that he felt "good" heading into the week’s competition.
Nevertheless, observers noted moments of reduced stamina during both of his opening matches, echoing his earlier admission after his win over Nuno Borges that he "struggled a little bit to stay fresh." After the win over Bu, the champion reflected, "I had to play very well and serve well at the right moments. He was solid, and I found it hard to locate any real openings in his game. He was hitting his spots incredibly well with the serve and mixing things up from the backcourt, using short slices that forced me to come in." The match began with Bu adopting an aggressive stance, pressuring Djokovic and creating three break‑point opportunities at 3-3 in the opening set. Djokovic managed to hold his serve, but a mis‑timed one‑handed backhand sent the ball beyond the baseline, gifting Bu a break point that eventually turned into a break.
The two players traded blows for roughly an hour, each holding serve and showcasing a high level of shot‑making. In the second‑set tiebreak, Djokovic found a surge of energy, edging out Bu and sending the contest into a decisive third set, even though he appeared visibly fatigued and required on‑court treatment for a side issue. Once the final set commenced, Djokovic accelerated his tempo, racing to a 4-0 lead before consolidating his dominance and closing the match. His victory set up a quarter‑final showdown against the winner of the Alexander Zverev versus Juncheng Shang encounter.
While Djokovic battled his physical limitations, other storylines unfolded in Beijing. Daniil Medvedev booked a second‑round match against Jan‑Lennard Struff after dispatching Pablo Carreno‑Busta 6-4 6-2, and Karen Khachanov overcame Alex Molcan 7-5 6-3. Across the city at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open, Artur Fils defeated Frances Tiafoe 6-3 7-5 to earn a place in his quarter‑finals.
Meanwhile, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka launched her China Open campaign with a commanding 6-1 6-3 triumph over world No.
94 Renata Zarazua, completing the match in just over an hour. Sabalenka unleashed a barrage of powerful groundstrokes early, racing 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 again within three games and sealing the win with another break, positioning herself for a clash with world No.
34 Nikola Bartunkova. Four‑time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka also faced a stern test, needing three sets to advance.
After taking the opening set 6-3, Osaka's rhythm dipped in the second, allowing Maria Timofeeva to claw back a break and win five consecutive games to level the match at 1-1. Osaka, however, tapped into her experience, finding a second wind in the decider and running off five straight games to claim the match 6-3 3-6 6-3. Reflecting on the contest, Osaka said, "It was really tough. It was my first match since New York, so getting my bearings was a little difficult.
She's a great player, and I think it was a great match." British contender Katie Boulter suffered a second‑round exit, falling 7-6(7-3) 6-1 to world No. 8 Karolina Muchova.
This loss marked Boulter's third defeat to Muchova this season, the most recent occurring at the US Open. Muchova praised the contest, noting, "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." Boulter had started strongly, racing to a 4-1 lead, but Muchova rallied, breaking to level at 4-4. The two exchanged high‑quality groundstrokes, with Muchova delivering a series of spectacular winners and even a daring drop‑shot pirouette that forced a tense tiebreak.
After clinching the first set, Muchova accelerated, breaking Boulter twice in the second set to secure a spot in the third round against world No. 39 Liudmila Samsonova. Overall, the Beijing tournament highlighted the resilience of seasoned veterans like Djokovic, Sabalenka, and Osaka, while also underscoring the depth of competition across both the ATP and WTA draws. Fans were reminded of the physical demands of the sport, as even the most accomplished players must contend with health concerns, recovery needs, and the relentless pressure of high‑stakes matches.
The action continued to unfold across multiple venues, with live streaming options available on platforms such as NOW and the Sky Sports App, ensuring that tennis enthusiasts worldwide could follow the drama of the China Open, the Japan Open, and the upcoming Shanghai Masters without contractual barriers.