Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarterfinals of the China Open in Beijing on Friday, October 3, 2026, overcoming local player Bu Yunchaokete in a three-set match while addressing ongoing health challenges that have impacted his 2026 season.
Novak Djokovic Defeats Bu Yunchaokete to Reach Beijing Quarterfinals
Novak Djokovic secured a hard-fought 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 victory over Bu Yunchaokete on Friday, extending his undefeated record in the Chinese capital. The match lasted two hours and 51 minutes inside a packed stadium. With the win, the 39-year-old Serbian star maintained a pristine 31-0 match record at the ATP 500 tournament, a title he has captured six times previously, according to tournament historical records. He has become the oldest tennis player to reach the quarterfinals of an ATP 500 event since this series began in 2009. Tuve que jugar muy bien. Tuve que sacar bien en los momentos adecuados,
Djokovic said. Él fue muy sólido. Me costó realmente encontrar huecos en su juego y estaba colocando muy bien sus tiros con el saque.
Mérito para él por jugar bien. El ambiente fue increíble. Estadio lleno otra vez durante tres horas — qué partido del que formar parte,
he added.
The encounter required Djokovic to overturn a first-set deficit after his 24-year-old opponent claimed the opening frame 6-4. Djokovic regrouped in the second set, eventually dominating the tie-break 7-2 before breaking Bu’s serve twice in the decider to race to a 4-0 lead. He sealed the contest on his second match point with a cross-court backhand.
Health Struggles and Physical Toll Shape the 2026 Season
Speaking in his post-match press conference, Djokovic provided a frank assessment of his physical condition throughout the 2026 season, during which he holds a 16-7 match record according to Infosys win-loss data. He clarified that his difficulties stem from health-related issues rather than standard athletic endurance.
“The truth is that this year has been a very, very big struggle for me due to some particular problems that I have been having,” Djokovic said. “Simply I have been trying to find different ways to, at least, be in a decent physical and health condition to be able to step on the court and compete against the player on the other side of the net.”
Djokovic elaborated on the nature of his difficulties, noting that they diverge from normal physical conditioning. “Most of the matches and tournaments that I have played this year have been a really, really hard struggle for me physically. That has nothing to do with endurance. People confuse it. It’s not endurance. It’s something else. It’s more related to health. I don’t want to reveal what it is, but I’m trying to get to the bottom of it with my team.”
During his second-round clash against Bu, Djokovic requested on-court medical attention following a service break in the second set. Observers noted the treatment appeared directed at his rib area, mirroring a medical timeout he required during his opening-round victory against Portugal’s Nuno Borges on Wednesday.
Chasing Qualification for the Nitto ATP Finals in Turin
Beyond his immediate campaign in Beijing, Djokovic faces a race against time to secure a berth at the season-ending championships. The 12th in the PIF ATP Live Race To Turin currently sits outside the qualification cutoff for the prestigious indoor event where he holds a record seven titles.
“Right now I am not qualified yet for the race to Turin either,” Djokovic acknowledged. “This year I would like to play if I qualify.”
His 2026 campaign has featured stark contrasts, highlighted by a run to the Australian Open semifinals—where he defeated Jannik Sinner before falling to Carlos Alcaraz—alongside early exits at the Cincinnati Masters and the US Open.
Quarterfinal Showdown Against Alexander Zverev
With his victory over Bu, Djokovic advances to the quarterfinals, where a high-profile matchup awaits against top-seeded Alexander Zverev. Zverev advanced through his side of the draw after facing Chinese player Shang Juncheng.
Their most recent meeting took place at Roland Garros in 2025, where the Serbian emerged victorious.
