Six-time China Open champion Novak Djokovic remained unbeaten in Beijing by rallying for a 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 victory against Chinese hopeful Yunchaokete Bu on Friday.
The sixth-seeded Serbian improved to 31-0 at the ATP 500 event and moved into the quarterfinals by completing the comeback in two hours and 52 minutes. Djokovic matched longtime rival Rafael Nadal’s 31-0 mark at the French Open for the best start at any event by a man during the Open Era (since 1968).
Djokovic, 39, is competing in the tournament for the first time since his sixth title in 2015 (also 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013 and 2014). He will face either No. 1 seed Alexander Zverev of Germany or China’s Juncheng Shang in the final eight.
Also Friday, No. 3 Daniil Medvedev of Russia beat Spain’s Pablo Carreno-Busta 6-4, 6-2 in a first-round match. In second-round action, Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz outlasted France’s Arthur Gea 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-2 and Russia’s Karen Khachanov defeated Alex Molcan of Slovakia 7-5, 6-3. Hurkacz and Khachanov will meet in the quarterfinals.
Japan Open Tennis Championship
Frenchman Arthur Fils advanced to the quarterfinals in Tokyo with a 6-3, 7-5 upset of second-seeded Frances Tiafoe.
Fils struck 10 aces and saved both break points he faced in the 90-minute victory. Up next is No. 8 seed Valentin Vacherot of Monaco, who rallied for a 4-6, 7-6 (5), 6-4 win against Greece’s Stefanos Tsitsipas in two hours and 14 minutes.
Spain’s Jaume Munar and France’s Kyrian Jacquet will also meet in the quarterfinals. Munar pounded Portugal’s Jaime Faria 6-1, 6-1 in 64 minutes, while Jacquet delivered 15 aces in a 6-3, 7-6 (5) win against Italy’s Luciano Darderi.
–Field Level Media
