Tennis essentials, 2 October: Djokovic stretched in Beijing, Fils and Jacquet through in Tokyo

Novak Djokovic called for the physio again in Beijing, but he stays unbeaten in the tournament. Two Frenchmen are through to the Tokyo quarter-finals, and the WTA has reformed its prize money. The tennis day in review.

Djokovic calls the physio, wins anyway

A set down against Yunchaokete Bu, ranked 104th, Novak Djokovic had the physio on court at the end of the opener, then flipped the match: 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2, and a place in the quarter-finals of the ATP 500 in Beijing. His 31st win there, still without a defeat in the tournament. As in his first round, the Serb looked in physical trouble, after the exhaustion seen in the summer heat of Cincinnati and New York.

Arthur Fils passes Tiafoe with Turin in mind

6-3, 7-5 against Frances Tiafoe: Arthur Fils is into the Tokyo quarter-finals, a tournament he entered through qualifying. “Whenever I warm up with Goran Ivanisevic, I never lose”, he said after extending his run. The win moves him forward in the race to the ATP Finals.

Kyrian Jacquet lands his first Top 20 win

At 25 and ranked 86th, the Frenchman beat Luciano Darderi, the world number 19, 6-3, 7-6 (5) to reach the Tokyo quarter-finals. His first win over a Top 20 player, having started the year ranked outside the top 270. “I am far from overplaying”, he cautioned.

Ljubicic to coach Auger-Aliassime, keeping his FFT post

Ivan Ljubicic, special adviser to the French federation president, becomes Félix Auger-Aliassime’s coach. The Canadian split from Frédéric Fontang in July. The Croat keeps his post at the FFT, which could set him against Arthur Fils. Benoît Maylin called the arrangement “absurd”. Our article has the details.

Equal prize money from 2027 on the WTA Tour

At WTA events run jointly with the ATP, women and men will receive the same prize money from 2027, the tour announced. The number of mandatory tournaments for the top players has also been cut.

Nishikori retires, Alcaraz labours

Kei Nishikori, a former world number 4 and the 2014 US Open runner-up, ended his career after a first-round defeat in Tokyo against Frances Tiafoe (6-4, 6-4). Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz needed three sets to get past Alex Michelsen, 7-6 (1), 4-6, 6-1. “It is a bit frustrating”, he admitted.