Novak Djokovic once again showed why he remains one of the sport's most tenacious competitors, battling through lingering fitness concerns to pull off a gritty comeback against world No. 104 wildcard Yunchaokete Bu at the China Open on Friday. The Serbian entered the match on the back foot, dropping the first set 4-6 before edging a tense second‑set tiebreak 7-2. With the momentum shifting, Djokovic summoned his trademark resilience, dominating the final set 6-2 and extending his unbeaten run at the Beijing event to an impressive 31 matches.
The backdrop to the encounter was a recent admission from Djokovic that he is living with a chronic health issue. In August he disclosed the condition but insisted he felt "good" heading into the tournament. Nevertheless, the first two rounds offered a glimpse of his physical limits. After a hard‑fought victory over Nuno Borges, he admitted he "struggled a little bit to stay fresh," and the signs of fatigue resurfaced against Bu.
Mid‑match, the Serbian required treatment on the side of the court, a clear indicator that his body was being tested. "I had to play very well and serve well in the right moments," Djokovic reflected after sealing the win. "Bu was solid throughout, and I found it difficult to create openings. He was placing his serves perfectly and varying his shots from the baseline, using short slices that forced me to come forward." Bu started aggressively, pushing Djokovic to save three break points at 3‑3 in the opening set.
The Serbian managed to hold his nerve, but a misplaced one‑handed backhand gave Bu the break he needed to clinch the set. The second set unfolded as a seesaw battle, with neither player able to break the other's rhythm. In the crucial tiebreak, Djokovic elevated his level, delivering precise serves and clutch groundstrokes that sent the match into a deciding third set. Once the final set began, the Serbian appeared rejuvenated.
He surged ahead 4‑0, showcasing his superior fitness and experience. Bu fought valiantly, but Djokovic's relentless pressure proved too much, and the Serbian closed out the match, earning a quarter‑final berth against the winner of the Alexander Zverev versus Juncheng Shang clash. The Beijing action continued with other notable results. Daniil Medvedev advanced to a second‑round duel with Jan‑Lennard Struff after a straight‑sets victory over Pablo Carreno‑Busta, while Karen Khachanov dispatched Alex Molcan 7‑5 6‑3.
Over at the Kinoshita Group Japan Open, Artur Fils overcame Frances Tiafoe 6‑3 7‑5 to secure his place in the quarter‑finals. On the women's side, world No. 2 Aryna Sabalenka launched her China Open campaign with a dominant 6‑1 6‑3 win over world No.
94 Renata Zarazua. Sabalenka's power was on full display from the outset; she raced to a 3‑0 lead, broke Zarazua again to go up 5‑1, and served out the first set without dropping a point.
In the second set she maintained the pressure, breaking early and sealing the match with another break, setting up a showdown with world No. 34 Nikola Bartunkova.
Four‑time Grand Slam champion Naomi Osaka endured a tougher path, needing three sets to dispatch Maria Timofeeva 6‑3 3‑6 6‑3. Osaka admitted the match was "really tough" and noted it was her first competitive outing since New York, making the adjustment to Beijing's conditions a challenge. After a comfortable first set, Osaka's rhythm slipped in the second, allowing Timofeeva to claw back a break and win five consecutive games to level the match.
Osaka, however, found a second wind in the decider, stringing together five straight games to close out the encounter and book a tie against 20th seed Sara Bejlek. British contender Katie Boulter saw her run end in the second round, falling 7‑6(7‑3) 6‑1 to world No.
8 Karolina Muchova. The result continued a pattern for Boulter, who has yet to overcome Muchova this season, losing all three meetings, including a recent US Open clash. Muchova praised Boulter's performance, highlighting the close nature of the first set and the quality of her opponent's serving and shot placement. After taking an early 4‑1 lead, Boulter allowed Muchova to recover, with the Czech breaking to level at 4‑4.
The match featured high‑quality rallies and a spectacular drop‑shot from Muchova that forced a tense tiebreak, which the 2026 Wimbledon finalist ultimately claimed. With the momentum firmly on her side, Muchova broke Boulter twice in the second set, securing a spot in the third round against world No. 39 Liudmila Samsonova.
Overall, the China Open continued to deliver a blend of high drama, physical endurance tests, and emerging storylines. Djokovic's ability to push past his health setbacks and still produce a comeback victory underscores his status as a consummate competitor. Meanwhile, the tournament's other stars—Sabalenka, Osaka, Medvedev, and Muchova—added their own chapters to a week that promised thrilling tennis and set the stage for the upcoming quarter‑finals and beyond.