Novak Djokovic advanced to the quarterfinals of the China Open in Beijing with a three-set victory over Bu Yunchaokete, extending his undefeated streak at the tournament to 31 matches and setting up a potential clash with Alexander Zverev, sport.de reported. The 39-year-old Serbian star battled through physical pain and a medical timeout to secure a 4:6, 7:6 (7:2), 6:2 win against the local wildcard entry.
Novak Djokovic Extends Historic Beijing Streak Despite Physical Struggles
Grand-Slam record champion Novak Djokovic maintained his perfect historical record in the Chinese capital, bringing his career match record at the tournament to 31-0. By reaching the quarterfinals at 39 years and four months old, Djokovic became the oldest player to reach this stage at an ATP 500 event since the tour’s introduction in 2009, according to sport.de. All of his previous appearances in Beijing—in 2009, 2010, and from 2012 through 2015—ended with him lifting the trophy.
Sport Bild reported that Djokovic required treatment on his upper body during the match after dropping the opening set 4:6 and falling behind 2:3 in the second. The treatment followed a similar medical timeout during his opening-round victory over Portugal’s Nuno Borges, where he managed right shoulder discomfort. After receiving courtside assistance, Djokovic turned the momentum, dominated the second-set tiebreak 7:2, and broke away in the deciding third set to close out the match in two hours and 52 minutes.
“After eleven years, I naturally want to extend the series,” Djokovic said after the match, addressing the crowd in remarks noted by sport.de. “I want to give everything for you.”
Alexander Zverev Chases Ranking Points and a Path in Beijing
Top-seeded Alexander Zverev enters the later rounds of the ATP 500 event in pursuit of further ranking points in the absence of Jannik Sinner, holding a strong position in the draw after a straight-sets 7:6, 6:4 victory over Britain’s Cameron Norrie in his opening singles match, as outlined by sport.de and tennisnet.com. Zverev entered the tournament trailing by 1,370 ranking points and aims to close that gap following title wins at both the French Open and the US Open earlier in the year.
Before any potential quarterfinal meetings, Zverev faced a Saturday afternoon match against Chinese player Juncheng Shang. In addition to his singles campaign, Zverev teamed up with Brazilian partner Marcelo Melo in the doubles draw. The pair advanced to the quarterfinals by defeating the German-Dutch duo Constantin Frantzen and Robin Haase 6:2, 7:5, with a subsequent match scheduled against the British doubles team Julian Cash and Lloyd Glasspool, according to sport.de records.
First-Round Battles and Tournament Context Across China
Djokovic’s path to the quarterfinals began with a straight-sets victory over Nuno Borges. Tennisworldde.com noted that Borges had previously tested the Serbian star during an indoor meeting in Athens in November 2025, where Djokovic collected his 200th indoor win. Entering the Beijing draw, Borges pointed to Djokovic's unblemished 29-0 tournament record as a potential source of pressure, though Djokovic ultimately won his early matches despite his physical setbacks.
Concurrent tennis action in Asia also featured the Japan Open in Tokyo, where Carlos Alcaraz opened against Alex Michelsen, and Frances Tiafoe faced Kei Nishikori, according to tournament draws tracked by tennisnet.com. Back in Beijing, the tournament schedule continued to unfold ahead of the final rounds set for early October.
Djokovic Awaits Opponent for China Open Quarterfinals
Whether the projected marquee matchup between Djokovic and Zverev materializes depends entirely on the outcome of Zverev’s Saturday afternoon encounter against Juncheng Shang. While Djokovic awaits his next opponent following his three-set battle against Bu Yunchaokete, tournament organizers have scheduled the subsequent phases of the China Open to run through the opening week of October.
