Novak Djokovic overcame injury concerns to defeat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, securing a spot in the semifinals of the China Open. This victory extends Djokovic's unbeaten record at the tournament, where he has been a six-time champion. The match took place on Sunday in Beijing, marking Djokovic's first appearance at the event since 2015.
Read More
Zverev, the reigning French Open and US Open champion, placed heavy pressure on Djokovic, delivering 19 aces throughout the contest. The two players met for the first time in over 16 months, and initially, Zverev's power took control as he claimed the first set. However, Djokovic gradually found his rhythm, remarking on his slow start that included two early double faults, which hindered his performance. "I had a terrible start... it was hard to come back in the first set," Djokovic said.
The match had a moment of controversy when Zverev requested a video review after arguing that the electronic advertising signs had gone dark during a rally. Despite the replays showing a section of the signage had switched off, the chair umpire decided to replay the point, leading to Djokovic's frustration.
The pivotal moment came late in the second set when Djokovic broke Zverev's serve at 5-4, leveling the match and shifting the momentum in his favor. Djokovic maintained his composure in the tightly contested third set, breaking Zverev again at 5-4 to secure his victory after two hours and 35 minutes. "I tried to be aggressive and come to the net... I held my nerves, played good shots at important moments," Djokovic stated.
Having faced Zverev previously at Roland Garros in 2025, where Djokovic also emerged victorious, this match underscored his ability to perform under pressure amid a challenging season marked by physical issues. Djokovic's win brings him closer to clinching a seventh China Open title and his first trophy of the year, while thwarting Zverev’s bid to solidify his position as the world number one.
Djokovic is set to face Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals after Medvedev defeated Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(4), 6-3.
In a related development, world number one Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the Wuhan Open due to a foot injury following her surprising exit at the China Open, where she lost to world number 118 Alina Charaeva. Rybakina expressed regret towards her fans in an Instagram post, stating, "I’ll take some time to rest and recover. Thank you for your understanding and continued support." After managing a lingering injury earlier this year, she had recovered sufficiently to win her third Grand Slam title at the US Open.