Novak Djokovic advanced to the singles semifinals of the China Open in Beijing on Oct. 4, defeating world No. 2 Alexander Zverev of Germany 2-1 (4-6, 6-4, 6-4), according to reports from South Korea.
Djokovic Extends Beijing Winning Streak Against Zverev
The 39-year-old Serbian star overcame a first-set deficit against Zverev’s powerful play to secure the victory in their first meeting in 16 months. With the win, Djokovic extended his career-long undefeated streak at the China Open to 32 matches. He now stands just two victories away from claiming his first tour title of the season and hoisting the China Open trophy for the seventh time in his career.
Late-Set Breaks Turn the Match in Beijing
Zverev capitalized on his heavy serve to break Djokovic early and claim the opening set. However, Djokovic adjusted in the second set, breaking Zverev at 5-4 to level the match. He repeated the exact same tactical breakthrough in the tenth game of the third set, converting another late break at 5-4 to seal the match.
“These are the moments I still play and compete for,” Djokovic said after the match, pointing to the energy of a 15,000-strong crowd in Beijing. “When I feel like I’m competing on equal terms with the best players in the world, my competitive spirit is stimulated.”
Stakes in the Semifinals and Rankings Impact
Djokovic moves on to face Daniil Medvedev of Russia in the semifinals, after Medvedev advanced past Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo. For Zverev, the quarterfinal exit delivers a significant blow to his pursuit of the year-end world No. 1 ranking.
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