Djokovic has not lost a match at the China Open since his first appearance there in 2009. On Friday, that streak reached 31 matches.

The 39-year-old Serbian beat Chinese wild card Bu Yunchaokete 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 to reach his seventh quarterfinal in Beijing, moving to a perfect 31-0 at the tournament. Only one man in the Open Era had ever started a career at a single event with that run: Nadal, who won his first 31 matches at Roland Garros between 2005 and 2009 before Robin Söderling ended the streak.

The match lasted two hours and 52 minutes. Djokovic was broken in the opening set and needed a medical timeout in the second, according to TNT Sports, before pulling clear in the decider.

A six-time champion returning after 11 years

Djokovic’s China Open history is unusual. He won the title in 2009, then defended it in 2010, before adding four more trophies in 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He did not play Beijing again until this year, an 11-year gap bridging two very different phases of his career.

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The record itself needs context. Nadal’s 31-0 was built across five uninterrupted editions of the French Open, a clay-season fixture he played every spring. Djokovic’s has been assembled across appearances spread over 17 years, with the long absence in between. Both runs are now the only two of their kind in men’s tennis.

‘The double win’

Djokovic praised his opponent’s level and the crowd that had turned out to back the home player.

“He was so solid. I struggled to really find holes in his game and he was hitting his spots really well,” Djokovic said after the match.

He described the fightback as particularly satisfying.

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“It means a lot. Obviously when you win being set down and needing to really work your way back to the match, it kind of values as the double win.”

Djokovic also addressed the atmosphere inside the stadium, where support was split between him and the local wild card.

“Playing a Chinese player, I kind of logically expected there would be more on his side. I’ve gotten so much support.”

Zverev or Shang next

Djokovic’s quarterfinal opponent will be decided on Saturday, when top seed Alexander Zverev plays Chinese wild card Shang Juncheng in the second round. Zverev beat Cameron Norrie 7-6, 6-4 in his opener.

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Djokovic leads Zverev 9-5 in their career head-to-head and won their last meeting, at Roland Garros in 2025.

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