Breaking down Rafael Nadals Chances at the Beijing Open

Nadal, like his compatriot David Ferrer, is trying to qualify for next month’s Barclays ATP World Tour Finals and moved a step closer, hitting 17 winners to his opponent’s eight on his way to the one-hour 26-minute result.

“In the US Open I did better, even if I lost the match (to Fabio Fognini in the third round). I’m very happy for my brother, that he was able to experience such an atmosphere”, Novak Djokovic said.

The Spaniard said he was working on returning the old intensity to his ferocious forehand, but more importantly, he was again finding it easier to regulate his emotions. Talks of changing mentor have come into spotlight after Nadal getting slumped at both the French Open, a competition he has won nine times, and Wimbledon.

Also in Nadal’s half of the draw, which was released on Saturday, are second-seeded Czech Tomas Berdych, who will square off against Uruguay’s Pablo Cuevas in the first round.

Zhang, listed at 219 in the world, savoured a rare victory over a top-100 player as he upset Uzbekistan’s 70th-ranked Denis Istomin 6-3, 1-6, 6-3 in the China Open first round.

Wu broke the left-hander on four occasions in the match before Nadal secured a 6-4 6-4 triumph to advance to round two in the Far East. So I try a little bit to play with calm.

“We enjoyed it very much – encouraging each other to the first win”.

Bidding for his eighth title of the season, Djokovic struck seven aces and finished with 22 winners to just 14 unforced errors.

“The mental strength and the level of tennis is hard to equal”, an admiring Nadal said of Djokovic this week, ahead of an exhibition match against the Serb in Thailand. After Bolelli fought off three break points in the next game, Djokovic finally clicked on his fourth opportunity to break for 2-1.