“Das sind die Momente, für die ich noch Tennis spiele,” Novak Djokovic said after defeating Alexander Zverev 6:4, 4:6, 4:6 at the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing, halting the German player’s pursuit of the world number one ranking. The two-time Grand Slam champion fell short in a high-quality 2 hour and 34 minute quarterfinal battle, missing out on a semifinal berth against Russia’s Daniil Medwedew.
Djokovic Extends Perfect Beijing Record Against Zverev
The hard-fought match saw Djokovic convert his second matchball to seal the victory, maintaining an unblemished record in Beijing where he has now secured 32 wins without a single defeat in his career at the venue. Djokovic praised his opponent’s formidable current form. “Er ist im Moment der beste Spieler auf der Welt, hat einen unglaublichen Lauf und viel Selbstvertrauen,” Djokovic noted regarding Zverev’s recent performances, adding that facing the German’s powerful service game remains a significant challenge on tour.
The opening set stretched for nearly an hour before Zverev capitalized on his second set point to take it 6:4. The momentum shifted in the second set when Zverev squandered a crucial break point at 4:4, immediately dropping his own service game and handing the set to Djokovic. Fatigue ultimately caught up to Zverev in the deciding third set after both competitors maintained elite tactical and physical levels throughout the grueling baseline exchanges.
Sinner Knee Issues Affect World Ranking Battle
With the quarterfinal exit, Zverev can no longer overtake current world number one Jannik Sinner during the ongoing Asian swing. Capturing the top spot required tournament victories in both Beijing and Shanghai. However, the ranking battle remains tight due to ongoing health setbacks for the Italian leader.
Sinner withdrew from the upcoming ATP Masters 1000 event in Shanghai due to persistent knee issues, leaving his exact tour return date uncertain. Because Sinner enters Shanghai as the defending champion, his absence forces him to forfeit a substantial number of ranking points. This creates an opening for Zverev to narrow the deficit further, despite missing the chance to claim the top ranking immediately in China.
Zverev entered the Beijing draw carrying a heavy match load following a successful summer stretch that included his triumph at the US Open in New York, alongside victorious appearances for Germany in the Davis Cup against Croatia and for Team Europe at the Laver Cup against Team World. Zverev aims to become only the second German man in tennis history to reach the world number one ranking, joining Boris Becker, who spent a cumulative 12 weeks atop the ATP standings.
Who Will Novak Djokovic Face Next in Beijing?
Who will Novak Djokovic face next in Beijing?
Following his quarterfinal victory over Alexander Zverev, Djokovic advanced to the semifinal round to face Russian competitor Daniil Medwedew.
Why did Alexander Zverev miss out on overtaking Jannik Sinner in the rankings?
Zverev needed to win the titles at both the Beijing ATP 500 event and the upcoming Shanghai Masters to mathematically secure enough points to surpass Sinner during the Asian swing. His quarterfinal loss in Beijing ended that immediate pursuit.
How long was the quarterfinal match between Djokovic and Zverev?
The high-level encounter lasted exactly 2 hours and 34 minutes before Djokovic secured the win in three sets.
Worth a look
