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Djokovic Battles Back to Beat Zverev and Reach China Open Semifinals

Posted : 05 October 2026

Novak Djokovic produced a strong comeback to defeat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and reach the China Open semifinals in Beijing. The 39-year-old Serbian will face third seed Daniil Medvedev in the last four.

Zverev made the better start and took advantage of an early break to claim the opening set. The German also showed his power on serve, finishing with 19 aces, but Djokovic gradually found his rhythm and increased the pressure in the longer rallies.

The decisive moment came at 5-4 in the second set. Djokovic broke Zverev's serve to level the match and then repeated the same feat at 5-4 in the third set to complete the comeback after two hours and 35 minutes. He won 82 percent of points behind his first serve and converted two of his five break points.

The victory also extended Djokovic's unbeaten China Open record to 32 matches. That mark moved him past Rafael Nadal's 31-match winning start at the French Open and gave Djokovic the best unbeaten start at a single men's tour-level event in the Open Era.

Djokovic is a six-time China Open champion and is now through to his seventh semifinal in Beijing. He is chasing a seventh title at the tournament and his first trophy of a difficult 2026 season, with fitness and consistency having been major challenges.

"These are the kind of moments that I still play for, compete for," Djokovic said after the match. He added that competing at the same level as the world's best players in front of a packed Beijing crowd remains a major motivation.

The result is also significant for Zverev's ranking ambitions. The 29-year-old German, who has won the French Open and US Open this season, missed the chance to strengthen his bid to finish the year as world number one.

Djokovic's semifinal opponent, Medvedev, defeated Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 earlier on Sunday. The Russian is coming off a title-winning run in Hangzhou and has reached the final four in Beijing on each of his four appearances at the tournament.

The other semifinal will feature Australia's Alex de Minaur against Poland's Hubert Hurkacz. De Minaur recovered from a set down to beat Andrey Rublev 1-6, 6-2, 6-3, while Hurkacz defeated Karen Khachanov 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.

 

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