Novak Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev in a quarterfinal match at Tokyo, winning 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 in a battle lasting over two and a half hours, sports.orange.fr reported.
Victory Over Zverev in Tokyo
The Serbian player described his performance against the world No. 2 as one of his best matches of the season. Djokovic pointed to the grueling encounter as a reminder of his capabilities on the court, comparing the level of play to his semifinal meeting with Jannik Sinner at the Australian Open earlier in the year.
“I am obviously very happy, it’s probably one of the two best matches I played this year, with the one against Jannik Sinner in the semi-finals of the Australian Open,” Djokovic said, according to sports.orange.fr.
That Australian Open encounter saw Djokovic secure a five-set victory by 3–6, 6–3, 4–6, 6–4, 6–4. The latest win against Zverev provided similar intensity, requiring high-risk tennis to break down his opponent.
Motivation to Face the Best Players
Reflecting on why he continues competing at 39 years old, Djokovic emphasized that high-stakes matches against top-tier opponents serve as his primary drive. He noted that the daily grind of training is designed specifically to keep him competitive at the highest level.
“By moments, I played high-risk tennis, but I had to do it. Otherwise, it would have been very difficult to win. This kind of match represents my biggest motivation,” Djokovic stated, as reported by sports.orange.fr. “That’s why I continue to play and push myself, practically on a daily basis or every week, to train and put myself at this level to be ready to beat the best players in the world.”
Djokovic acknowledged that competing against younger generations has grown increasingly difficult, which amplifies his satisfaction when he secures victories in major tournaments. He admitted that strong performances help erase the physical and mental hurdles he faced during a challenging stretch earlier in the year.
Upcoming Match Against Daniil Medvedev
Following his quarterfinal victory, Djokovic advances to face Daniil Medvedev. The match is scheduled for Monday in Chinese tournament conditions that Medvedev traditionally favors.
Djokovic enters the next round aiming for the 146th final of his career, which would mark his 101st tour-level victory.
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