Happy at home, Bu readies for Djokovic challenge

When Bu Yunchaokete needed one final push to survive his China Open first round, the home crowd gave it to him.

With the third set hanging in the balance, China’s top-ranked men’s player drew energy from the fans around him at the Lotus Court and rallied late to close out a 6-2, 5-7, 6-4 victory over Juan Manuel Cerundolo.

“Thanks a lot to the fans for supporting me,” Bu said. “They gave me my energy.”

Bu will face Novak Djokovic in the second round. Djokovic, the six-time winner at the event, has never lost a match in the China Open. Bu is happy to face the challenge.

“I think everybody wants to play against him,” Bu said. “If it can happen here at home, I think that’s the best one for me.”

Bu broke Cerundolo’s serve to go up 3-2 and gain control in the third set. Bu took the game’s lead 30-0 before Cerundolo tied it at 30-all with an ace. Bu took the lead with a point at the net before Cerundolo double-faulted to give Bu the key game.

Bu won his next two service games at love to take a 5-4 lead and closed out the win with a 17-rally match point.

Bu won the first set comfortably, breaking Cerundolo twice, but Cerundolo forced a third set with a big break in the 12 th game of the second. An unforced error by Bu gave Cerundolo the second set.

“In the second game, the mentality was tough,” said Bu. “My emotions came to me and made me nervous.”

But barely had any time to settle in back in Beijing. He reached the quarterfinal of the Hangzhou Open just four days ago. But playing on home soil gave him the boost he needed.

“It’s not that much time to sink it all in,” Bu said. “It’s very well, and I miss home.”

By Dominic Achille