Beijing, 2 October, 2026 (Kamran Raja): Serbian tennis star Novak Djokovic survived a tough challenge from Chinese wildcard Bu Yunchaokete to advance to the quarter-finals of the China Open in Beijing. The 11th-ranked Djokovic defeated the world number 104 in a hard-fought second-round encounter, winning 4-6, 7-6 (7/2), 6-2 after two hours and 52 minutes. Bu, 24, delighted the home crowd with an aggressive performance and repeatedly tested Djokovic from the baseline. Djokovic required a medical timeout for a torso issue after surrendering a break in the second set but recovered to win a tense tie-break and force a deciding set. The Serbian then raised his level, winning four consecutive games before sealing the match with a backhand winner. Djokovic, who remains unbeaten in 31 matches in Beijing, praised the atmosphere and said he had tried to give his all. He will face either top seed Alexander Zverev of Germany or Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng in the quarter-finals. In the women’s draw, world number two Aryna Sabalenka began her China Open campaign with a 6-1, 6-3 victory over Mexico’s Renata Zarazua, hitting 11 aces in the 62-minute match. Japan’s Naomi Osaka also advanced after defeating Uzbekistan’s Maria Timofeeva 6-3, 3-6, 6-3, while French Open champion Mirra Andreeva overcame Chinese wildcard Yuan Yue 3-6, 6-0, 6-0. Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova defeated Elena-Gabriela Ruse 6-4, 6-1. In the men’s draw, Russia’s Daniil Medvedev beat qualifier Pablo Carreno Busta 6-4, 6-2 to set up a second-round meeting with Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff.