At 39, the Serbian is still turning difficult matches into historical milestones.
Beijing
Novak Djokovic extended his extraordinary unbeaten record at the China Open to 31 consecutive victories after coming from behind to defeat China’s Bu Yunchaokete 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. The match lasted two hours and 52 minutes and sent the six time Beijing champion into the quarterfinals.
Bu, ranked outside the top 100, pushed Djokovic harder than expected from the opening set. The Chinese player broke serve and maintained the advantage to take the first set 6-4, putting the Serbian’s perfect tournament record under serious pressure.
The second set became the turning point. Djokovic required physical attention during the match but managed to force a tiebreak and then dominated it 7-2. From there, the balance shifted decisively. The Serbian raised his level in the third set, controlled the longer exchanges and closed the match 6-2.
Djokovic later described the result as a double victory, emphasizing not only the comeback itself but the mental effort required to recover from a difficult opening phase. That perspective carries particular significance during a season in which he has acknowledged persistent physical problems and periods of uncertainty over his condition.
The victory also produced a remarkable statistical achievement. Djokovic’s 31-0 start at the China Open equals Rafael Nadal’s 31 consecutive victories at Roland Garros between 2005 and 2009, matching the best undefeated start by a player at a single tournament in the Open Era.
His relationship with Beijing is exceptional. Djokovic has won the tournament six times and has never lost a match there, despite returning in 2026 after an absence of 11 years. He is now seeking a seventh title in the Chinese capital and another trophy in a career already defined by records.
The result also makes Djokovic the oldest player to reach the quarterfinals of an ATP 500 event, adding another longevity mark to a career increasingly measured as much by endurance as by trophies.
Bu nearly interrupted one of tennis’ most unusual unbeaten sequences. Instead, Djokovic found another way to extend it.
Facts that do not bend.