Novak Djokovic maintained his extraordinary dominance in Beijing by defeating Chinese wildcard Yunchaokete Bu 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 in the China Open second round, extending his unbeaten streak at the tournament to 31 consecutive matches.
Despite the lopsided final set, Bu pushed the Serbian champion into a competitive tiebreaker in the second set, forcing Djokovic to work for his progression. The Chinese player’s performance proved significant enough to move him back into the top 100 rankings following the loss.
Bu Praised Djokovic’s Legacy
In his post-match comments, Bu demonstrated remarkable perspective about facing one of tennis’s greatest champions. When asked about the crowd’s evident support for Djokovic during their contest, the Chinese player insisted it played no role in determining the outcome. Instead, Bu expressed admiration for his opponent’s historic achievements and unparalleled contribution to the sport.
“Of course he has committed so much to this industry, he has done so much for this industry, put tennis on a higher level, the number of Grand Slams he has won, he is number one in history. Of course he deserves respect,” Bu reflected after the match.
Historic China Open Record
The victory underscores Djokovic’s remarkable consistency at the China Open, a tournament where he has established himself as the dominant force. His 31-match unbeaten streak in Beijing represents one of the most impressive tournament-specific records in professional tennis, demonstrating his comfort on these courts and against the varied competition the event attracts.
Bu’s competitive showing in the second set, where he forced the tiebreaker to 7-2, suggests the wildcard entry provided Djokovic with a stern examination despite the eventual comfortable margin of victory. The Chinese player’s return to the top 100 rankings validates his growing competitiveness at the sport’s highest level.