Djokovic comes from a set down to beat Bu Yunchaokete at China Open

Right · 2Novak Djokovic beat Bu Yunchaokete 4-6 7-6(2) 6-2 in the second round of the China Open in Beijing on Friday 2 October, extending his record at the tournament to 31 wins and no defeats. 1 2 Right · 2Djokovic, a six-time champion, is back in Beijing for the first time in 11 years; his last title there was in 2015. He dropped a set in this round for the first time since 2013. 1 2 Right · 2Bu, the home favourite ranked 104th in the world, won the first set. Djokovic appeared to struggle with his breathing early in the second set, let an early break go, and accepted a time violation while trying to regain his breath. 1 2

Right · 2He consulted the trainer, as he had in his first-round win over Portugal's Nuno Borges, then dominated the tie-break and won the deciding set comfortably. 1 2 Right · 1At his news conference, the 39-year-old said the year had been "a big, big struggle". He said the cause was a health problem rather than stamina, that he did not want to give details, and that he and his team were still trying to find the root of it. 2 Right · 2The Irish Independent says he has been managing the condition since an early loss in Cincinnati in August. Arab News adds that his season included a first-round US Open loss, his earliest Grand Slam defeat since the 2006 Australian Open, and that he has dropped out of the top 10. 1 2

Right · 2Djokovic said he felt better as the match went on and fresher in the third set than at the start. He likely faces US Open champion Alexander Zverev next if Zverev beats Shang Juncheng on Saturday. 2 1