Beijing (AFP) – Former world number one Novak Djokovic, eleventh in the current ranking, survived a tough match this Friday against the Chinese tennis player Bu Yunchaokete (104th) in the round of 16 of the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing.

First modification: 02/10/2026 - 18:18

Djokovic, who thus has a second consecutive victory this year in the Chinese capital after beating the Portuguese Nuno Borges (49th) in his entry into the fray, advances to the quarterfinals, where he will face the winner of the arm wrestling match between the German Alexander Zverev and the also Chinese Juncheng Shang (250th).

Zverev, number two in the world and winner of two Grand Slam tournaments this year (Roland Garros and the US Open), is the first seed in this tournament.

Bu Yunchaokete (24 years old), who in the recent US Open surprised the young Spanish promise Rafa Jódar in the first round, had Djokovic (39 years old) on the ropes, encouraged by the Chinese fans.

He won the first set 6-4 and in the second set everything was decided in the tie-break, where Djokovic used his skill and experience to win the set 7/2.

In the decisive set, the Serbian quickly took the initiative and achieved a comfortable margin, which allowed him to win the match without problems, 6-2, after a match of 2 hours and 52 minutes.

"The atmosphere was incredible tonight. I tried to give it my all," Djokovic told the crowd from center court.

On this occasion he even requested medical attention after losing a game with his serve in the second set, where he resisted the attacks of his rival, who in the first round had eliminated the Argentine Juan Manuel Cerúndolo.

The Russian Karen Khachanov and the Polish Hubert Hurkacz, world numbers 27 and 39, also advanced this Friday to the quarterfinals in Beijing, who will face each other in search of a ticket to the semifinals.

In a match corresponding to the first round, the also Russian Daniil Medvedev, sixth in the world ranking, got rid of the Spanish Pablo Carreño (66th), the only representative of his country in the draw, by a clear 6-4 and 6-2.

-- Beijing ATP Tournament

- Individuals - First round:

Daniil Medvedev (RUS/N.3) defeated Pablo Carreño (ESP) 6-4, 6-2

- Individuals - Second round:

Novak Djokovic (SRB/N.6) defeated Bu Yunchaokete (CHN) 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2

Hubert Hurkacz (POL) to Arthur Gea (FRA) 7-6 (7/5), 6-7 (5/7), 6-2

Karen Khachanov (RUS) beats Alex Molcan (SVK) 7-5, 6-3

© 2026 AFP

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