Djokovic tops Zhang to improve to 26-0 at China Open

BEIJING – Novak Djokovic matched Jimmy Connors for the second-longest unbeaten record at an ATP Tour event by beating Chinese wild card Zhang Ze 6-2, 6-1 to improve to 26-0 at the China Open.

 

Djokovic has won five titles at the China Open in the past six years, excluding 2011, when he didn't play the tournament.

 

Djokovic matched Connors' 26-0 record at the ATP event in Birmingham, Alabama, from 1974-1980, and now only trails Rafael Nadal's 31-0 start at the French Open from 2005-2009.

 

On the women's side, the two US Open finalists from Italy - Flavia Pennetta and Roberta Vinci - both lost in the third round.

 

Pennetta, the US Open champion, lost to Russia's Anastasia Pavlyuchenkova 3-6, 6-4, 6-3, while Vinci was beaten by American qualifier Bethanie Mattek-Sands 6-1, 3-6, 6-2.

Djokovic is set to see action with the Singapore Slammers in the International Premier Tennis League this December.

 

The tournament will be mounting its second leg at the Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City. - With a report from Philstar.com