Djokovic fights back against Bu to match Nadal’s 31-0 record
Novak Djokovic (No. 6) came from a set down to beat Yunchaokete Bu 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 on Friday and reach the China Open quarterfinals. The win takes his record in Beijing to 31-0, equaling Rafael Nadal’s best start at Roland-Garros.
Novak Djokovic, Beijing 2026 | © AP Photo/Ng Han Guan/SIPA
Serb Novak Djokovic, the No. 6 seed, lost the first set and needed almost three hours to beat Chinese wild card Yunchaokete Bu 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 on Friday and reach the China Open quarterfinals. With the win, he kept his perfect record in Beijing intact.
The six-time champion is now 31-0 at the event. That equals Rafael Nadal’s 31-0 start at Roland-Garros as the best opening run at a single tournament for a man in the Open Era.
Djokovic turned the match around from the tiebreak onward, which he won 7-2. From that point, his forehand gained in consistency and depth, and he won more of the points in which he had the chance to attack. He then pulled away in the third set.
Zverev next round ?
The 39-year-old world No. 11 reached his seventh quarterfinal in Beijing, a record at the event, and the 228th of his career. He also became the oldest ATP 500 quarterfinalist since the category began in 2009, overtaking Roger Federer, who was 38 years and two months old in Basel in 2019.
Djokovic had beaten Portuguese Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6 (2) in his opener. Bu, ranked No. 104 and a semifinalist here in 2024, had edged out Argentine Juan Manuel Cerundolo 6-2, 5-7, 6-4. He remains bidding to become the first Chinese man to beat Djokovic.
Djokovic will face either German Alexander Zverev, the top seed, or Chinese wild card Juncheng Shang in Sunday’s quarterfinal. He will have 24 hours more recovery time than his opponent, which he may need.
