Djokovic now 26-0 in Beijing, Isner wins from brink of defeat

Novak Djokovic improved to 26-0 lifetime at the China Open by cruising past Chinese wild card Ze Zhang 6-2, 6-1 on Thursday afternoon. The five-time champion did not face a single break point while advancing to the quarterfinals in a mere 45 minutes.

“The conditions are definitely suitable to my game,” Djokovic assured. “I feel very pleasant playing on the center court. I guess as I keep coming back each year with that positive record, obviously gives me more confidence knowing that I played so well in the past on this court.

“I just keep on going. That’s all. There is no particular reason. There are a few things that play in my favor.”

Only Rafael Nadal’s 31-0 record to begin his French Open career is a better start an any ATP event than Djokovic’s in Beijing. The world No. 1 tied Jimmy Connor’s 26-0 mark at a tournament in Birmingham, Alabama from 1974 to 1980.

Highlights:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5utvlC_pJk]

Djokovic may have his hands at least somewhat full when he goes up against John Isner for the 10th time on Friday. The Serb has a sizable lead in the head-to-head series just as he does against almost everyone else, but Isner has defeated him twice in nine tries.

The 6’10” American is coming off a fourth-round performance at the U.S. Open and so far in Beijing he has taken out Dominic Thiem and John Millman. Thursday’s second-rounder actually saw Millman serve for a straight-set win before Isner stormed back for a 4-6, 7-6(5), 6-4 victory. Isner fired 21 aces but double-faulted four times and was broken in both the first and second sets.
[tweet https://twitter.com/TennisTV/status/652106880182059008]

Briefs
* Isner back from the brink against Millman, should reach No. 10 in race to London
* Fognini fends off Goffin, can reach top 25 with one more victory
* Cuevas cuts down Karlovic, can move into top 30 by reaching Beijing semifinals
* Cilic cruises past Johnson in Tokyo, likely to climb at least two spots to 12th
* Kyrgios crushes Bautista Agut to put himself in Australian Open seed position
* Paire beats Baghdatis, will play Kyrgios on Friday with No. 29 on the line
* Krajicek upsets Sousa, set to surge 30 spots into top 100

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