Nadal cruises past Wu Di to enter China Open second round

Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic advanced to the second round of the China Open on Tuesday.

The Serbian defending champion clinched a 6-1, 6-1 victory over Bolelli in a thrilling opening round match that lasted one hour and eleven minutes.

Caroline Wozniacki of Denmark returns the ball during the women’s singles second round match of China Open Tennis Tournament against Wang Qiang of China at the National Tennis Center in Beijing, capital of China, October 6, 2015. We are working lots to seek out the correct approach.

“I thought I played well on a very high level considering it’s the first official match out there after three weeks of the US Open”, Djokovic said after the match.

At a Thursday news conference, Djokovic said he hoped to bring “a smile” to fans faces and Nadal said the objective of the exhibition was “to create good fun for the people”.

“I’m practicing well, so the level of tennis is going to be there sooner or later”. The No. 3 seed will next meet Canadian Vasek Pospisil for a place in the quarter-finals.

“I know it’s obvious that I need results to confirm that”.

He will not have to look hard for footage of Djokovic, the 10-time Grand Slam-winner who is on a 24-match unbeaten streak in Beijing and should breeze past Simone Bolelli in round one on Monday.

The 14-time Grand Slam champion, who has struggled through his worst season in more than a decade and is now ranked No. 7, lost in the third round of the U.S. Open last month to Italy’s Fabio Fognini.

This year, the remarkable Serb became only the third player in the Open Era to reach all four Grand Slam finals in the same season, joining the illustrious company of Rod Laver and Roger Federer.

As for Wu, 24, it was a memorable encounter.

“As for the ATP Finals [Tennis Masters Cup], I served as the ball boy for Rafa”. So I try a little bit to play with calm.