“I have to pinch myself”: Novak Djokovic stunned by Chinese crowd’s reaction after beating home favorite
ATP
Novak Djokovic was left surprised by the reception he received from the Beijing crowd after overcoming home favorite Yunchaokete Bu in a three-set battle at the China Open. The 24-time Grand Slam champion admitted he had not expected such a response, particularly while facing a Chinese player in front of his own supporters.
Djokovic recovered from a set down to defeat Bu 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 after two hours and 52 minutes at the Beijing Olympic Tennis Centre. The match finished close to midnight in front of 15,000 fans, with the Serbian eventually securing his place in the quarterfinals of a tournament where he has never lost.
The atmosphere became one of the defining features of the contest, particularly as Djokovic battled through difficult conditions and a determined performance from Bu. The Chinese wildcard made the six-time champion work for his openings, while the wind added another complication to a match that repeatedly swung on small margins.
Yet it was the crowd's reaction that appeared to leave the biggest impression on Djokovic. Rather than simply reflecting on another difficult victory in Beijing, the Serbian focused on the unusual experience of receiving such strong support while playing against a local favorite.
“I honestly did not expect that”
Asked about the reception from the stands, Djokovic acknowledged that the support had caught him off guard. Given that he was facing a Chinese player, he had expected the crowd to naturally lean towards Bu, making the encouragement he received particularly meaningful.
“Yeah, I mean, I have to pinch myself. You know, I honestly did not expect that, especially playing against a Chinese player," Djokovic said after the match. "So, I'm very, very thankful. Honestly, I don't know what to say except that I'm very thankful to them and try to give them back with good performances on the court.”
The Serbian has enjoyed a particularly strong connection with the Chinese crowd throughout his career, but even that familiarity did not prepare him for the response he received during Friday night's battle. With the match stretching towards midnight, the atmosphere remained lively as Djokovic fought his way back into the contest.
“The atmosphere was amazing," Djokovic said. "Back stadium again, three hours, almost midnight. It's what a match to be part of."
Djokovic credits Bu after demanding comeback
Bu's performance forced Djokovic to find solutions rather than simply wait for the match to turn in his favor. The Chinese player struck his spots effectively on serve, mixed up the rallies with slices and occasionally moved forward, making it difficult for Djokovic to identify clear opportunities.
“He was so solid. I struggled to really find holes in his game. He was hitting his spots incredibly well with the serve and serve plus one, and he was mixing things up really well in the rallies, you know, from back of the court with some short slices coming in, making me come in as well. So, credit to him for playing well.”
The wind was another important factor. Djokovic felt that the conditions made one side of the court considerably easier to play from, with several of the breaks coming when a player had the wind behind them. It added another tactical element to an already closely contested match.
“I had to play very well, I had to serve well in the right moments. It was quite a breeze from one end of the court. I played easier with wind in your back than wind facing you, so I think most of the breaks came actually from the side where you played with the wind.”
The victory extended Djokovic's perfect China Open record to 31-0 and sent him into the quarterfinals for the seventh time. Returning to Beijing for the first time since winning his sixth title in 2015, he now has the opportunity to make that record even more remarkable.
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Djokovic will face either top seed Alexander Zverev or Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng in the next round. A victory would take his China Open record to 32-0, but after a three-hour night against Bu, the Serbian's most immediate takeaway was perhaps the unexpected support he received from the stands.
For Djokovic, it was a reminder that his relationship with the Beijing crowd remains special — even when he is standing on the other side of the net from one of China's own.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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