Participating in the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing for the first time since 2015, the legendary former world number one and six-time China Open champion was constantly troubled by Zverev (the reigning Roland Garros and US Open champion) throughout the match.
Meeting for the first time in nearly 16 months, Djokovic struggled to contain the German's power in the early stages, with Zverev gaining control of the first set. But Djokovic gradually regained control and prevented his opponent from widening the gap.
The turning point of the match came at the end of the second set when Djokovic won a crucial break point at 5-4 to level the match at 1-1, turning the tide in his favor after the tense moments that had just passed.
With the score so close in the third set (the deciding set), Djokovic once again scored, making it 5-4 when Zverev had the advantage of serving, securing the decisive break point (which was also the match point) to seal an impressive 2-1 victory. This comeback win shows that Djokovic's mental strength is still there.
The two hadn't met since Roland Garros in 2025, where Djokovic won in four sets, and their encounter on October 3rd once again demonstrated the Serbian player's ability to perform brilliantly under pressure, despite a season disrupted by fitness issues and age.
With this victory, Djokovic has moved one step closer to his seventh China Open title (another record for him) – and his first trophy in 2026, which he has yet to achieve – while also preventing Zverev from further consolidating his world number one ranking.
In the semi-finals, Djokovic will face another familiar opponent, Russian player Daniil Medvedev (the third seed in the men's singles at the China Open). Medvedev also defeated Argentinian player Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 in another quarter-final match.
This will be the 16th match between Djokovic and Medvedev. Djokovic holds a 10-5 head-to-head record. In their most recent encounter, Djokovic defeated the Russian in the 2023 US Open final in three sets. But will the 2026 China Open semi-final be different?
The other men's singles semi-final match at the China Open is between Alex de Minaur (Australia, seeded No. 5) and Hubert Hurkacz ( Poland ). Both players won against Russian opponents in the quarter-finals. De Minaur defeated Andrey Rublev 1-6, 6-2 and 6-3. Meanwhile, Hurkacz overcame Karen Khachanov with a score of 7-6 (7-2), 6-2.
The men's singles semi-finals of the 2026 China Open are scheduled to take place in the afternoon and evening of October 5th (Vietnam time).
Source: https://thethao.sggp.org.vn/djokovic-vuot-qua-zverev-dat-thanh-tich-32-0-o-china-open-post874926.html
