Novak Djokovic once again demonstrated his tenacity at the China Open on Friday, battling through lingering fitness concerns to stave off a second‑round defeat at the hands of world No. 104 wild‑card entrant Yunchaokete Bu.
The Serbian star fell behind early, dropping the first set 4‑6, but he rallied to force a second‑set tiebreak and ultimately sealed the match with a 4‑6, 7‑6 (7‑2), 6‑2 victory, extending his unbeaten run at the Beijing tournament to an impressive 31 matches. Earlier in August, Djokovic had been candid about an ongoing health issue that had been affecting his conditioning. He told reporters he was "feeling good" ahead of the week’s competition, yet the match against Bu revealed that the ailment still manifested in moments of reduced stamina. In his opening round against Portugal’s Nuno Borges, the champion admitted he "struggled a little bit to stay fresh," a sentiment that resurfaced during the recent encounter.
After the win, Djokovic reflected on the challenges he faced: "I had to play very well and serve well in the right moments," he said. He added that Bu was "so solid" and that he found it difficult to locate weaknesses in his opponent’s 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," Djokovic explained.
Bu started the match aggressively, applying pressure that forced 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 that sailed beyond the baseline handed Bu a crucial break point, which he converted to take the first set. The second set proved to be a tightly contested affair. Neither player could break the other's serve, and the set progressed to a tiebreak.
Despite appearing fatigued—Djokovic even required on‑court treatment for a side issue—he dug deep and elevated his play in the breaker, pulling ahead to claim the set 7‑6 with a 7‑2 margin. This momentum shift forced a decisive third set. In the final set Djokovic surged ahead, racing to a 4‑0 lead.
Bu attempted to mount a comeback, but the Serbian’s experience and fitness, even if not at peak levels, proved decisive. Djokovic closed out the match, securing his place in the quarter‑finals where he will meet the winner of the Alexander Zverev versus Juncheng Shang showdown. The Beijing tournament also featured notable performances from other top players.
Daniil Medvedev advanced to a second‑round clash with Jan‑Lennard Struff after dispatching Pablo Carreno‑Busta 6‑4, 6‑2. Fellow Russian Karen Khachanov overcame Alex Molcán 7‑5, 6‑3, further cementing Russia’s strong presence on the hard courts.
Across the city at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open Tennis Championships, Artur Fils earned a quarter‑final berth by defeating Frances Tiafoe 6‑3, 7‑5, showcasing the depth of talent on the Asian swing. In the women’s draw, 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’s aggressive baseline play produced a barrage of powerful groundstrokes, propelling her to a 3‑0 lead early in the first set.
She maintained relentless pressure, breaking Zarazua twice and serving out the set without dropping a game. The second set followed a similar script, with Sabalenka breaking early and closing the match comfortably, setting up a third‑round encounter with world No.
34 Nikola Bartúkova. Four‑time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka faced a tougher test, needing three sets to overcome Maria Timofeeva. Osaka captured the opening set 6‑3, but appeared to lose momentum in the second, allowing Timofeeva to rally from a break down to win five consecutive games and level the match at one set all. Osaka’s veteran poise resurfaced in the decider, where she seized control, winning five straight games to seal a 6‑3, 3‑6, 6‑3 victory.
Reflecting on the match, Osaka said, "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’s run ended in the second round after a 7‑6 (7‑3), 6‑1 loss to world No. 8 Karolina Muchova. The defeat continued a pattern for Boulter, who has yet to overcome Muchova this season, having lost all three of their meetings, including a recent encounter at the US Open. Muchova praised Boulter’s effort, noting the match was decided by just a few points in the first set.
After taking an early 4‑1 lead, Boulter allowed Muchova to claw back, with the Czech breaking to level at 4‑4 before ultimately prevailing in the tiebreak and securing a spot in the third round against world No. 39 Liudmila Samsonova. Overall, the China Open continued to deliver high‑quality tennis, with players navigating both physical challenges and fierce competition. Djokovic’s win, despite fitness hurdles, underscored his resilience and strategic acumen.
Sabalenka’s dominance, Osaka’s gritty comeback, and Muchova’s clinical execution further highlighted the depth of the field. As the tournament progresses into the quarter‑finals and beyond, fans can anticipate more thrilling matchups, compelling storylines, and the relentless pursuit of excellence that defines the ATP and WTA tours.