Novak Djokovic produced one of his trademark comebacks on Sunday, defeating top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to reach the semifinals of the China Open in Beijing. The win extended the six-time champion's astonishing unbeaten record at the tournament to 32 matches — breaking Rafael Nadal's record of 31 for the longest winning streak from the first match at a single ATP-level event — and kept alive his hunt for a seventh Beijing title and an elusive first trophy of 2026.
Table of Contents
- A terrible start, a vintage finish
- The record: 32-0 in Beijing
- Zverev's No. 1 bid takes a hit
- Medvedev awaits in the semifinal
- FAQ
A terrible start, a vintage finish
The match began like a nightmare for the 39-year-old Serb. Playing the ATP 500 event in Beijing for the first time since 2015, Djokovic double-faulted twice in the opening game to gift Zverev an instant break, and the German — a decade his junior — duly closed out the first set 6-4.
"I had a terrible start. Two double faults at the beginning. It was quite cold and honestly, I didn't feel warmed up, but my fault," Djokovic admitted afterward.
But this was a match that turned on nerve, not power. Zverev fired 19 aces and pushed the world No. 6 to the limit, yet Djokovic refused to let him pull away. The turning point came late in the second set, when the Serb broke at 5-4 with a cross-court winner to level the match. With little separating the pair in the decider, Djokovic struck again at 5-4 on the Zverev serve, sealing victory in two hours and 34 minutes.
There was even a flash of controversy: boos filled the stadium when the umpire agreed to replay a point Djokovic had won after Zverev complained about a flicker in the LED panels during play. It barely registered with the veteran, who held his serve under pressure throughout the final set.
The record: 32-0 in Beijing
The victory gave Djokovic an outright record. His 32 consecutive wins from his first match in Beijing surpassed the 31-match unbeaten start Rafael Nadal compiled at Roland-Garros — a benchmark many thought would stand forever. Djokovic has now not lost a match in Beijing since his tournament debut, spanning more than a decade and a first visit back since 2015.
It is a reminder of how dominant he was at this event in his prime — and how formidable he remains. This season has been disrupted by physical issues, and at 39 he is ranked sixth in the world, but Sunday's display was vintage: high-risk tennis, immaculate serving under pressure, and the ruthless efficiency at 5-4 that has defined his career.
"These are the kind of moments that I still play for, compete for," Djokovic said. "The motivation is big when you are feeling good and competing at par with the best players in the world in front of 15,000 people. These are the kind of moments that define dreams, I think, of every tennis player."
Zverev's No. 1 bid takes a hit
For Zverev, the defeat was a double blow. The reigning French Open and US Open champion arrived in Beijing as the top seed and overwhelming favorite, chasing the world No. 1 ranking from an injured Jannik Sinner. Instead, the pair's first meeting in nearly 16 months — since Roland Garros 2025, where Djokovic won in four sets — again ended with the Serb's hand raised.
The loss denies Zverev another opportunity to strengthen his bid for the year-end top spot, and adds another painful chapter to his record against Djokovic in the biggest matches.
Medvedev awaits in the semifinal
Djokovic now faces third seed Daniil Medvedev on Monday for a place in the final. The former world No. 1 dispatched Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 earlier on Sunday to book his semifinal spot. In the other half of the draw, Hubert Hurkacz beat Karen Khachanov 7-6 (7-2), 6-2 and will face Australia's Alex de Minaur, who recovered from a slow start to beat Andrey Rublev 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
"It's been a struggle this year for different reasons," Djokovic said of his trophy-less 2026. "But I'm still there, still grinding, still making the youngsters work for their money. I'm just glad to push it through."
One more win, and he plays for his first title of the season — in a city where he simply does not lose.
FAQ
What record did Djokovic break in Beijing? His 32 straight wins from his first match at the China Open surpassed Rafael Nadal's 31-match unbeaten start at Roland-Garros — the longest such streak at a single ATP-level event, according to Reuters.
When did Djokovic last play the China Open before 2026? 2015 — 11 years ago. He has now won six titles in Beijing and is chasing a seventh.
Who does Djokovic play next? Daniil Medvedev in the semifinal on Monday. Medvedev beat Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 in his quarterfinal.
What does this mean for Zverev's No. 1 ranking bid? The loss is a setback for his bid to finish the year as world No. 1, with injured leader Jannik Sinner absent but the ranking race still tight.
For more tennis and sporting drama this week, see our coverage of India's Asian Games gold over Pakistan and England's 7-0 Nations League rout of Croatia.
