Summary
- BEIJING: Novak Djokovic produced a vintage performance at the China Open, fighting back from a set down to defeat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and book his place in the semi-finals.
- Djokovic described the victory as one of his best matches of the year, putting it alongside his memorable five-set win over Jannik Sinner that sent him into the Australian Open final.
- Zverev eventually claimed the opening set, but Djokovic gradually found his rhythm.
BEIJING: Novak Djokovic produced a vintage performance at the China Open, fighting back from a set down to defeat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and book his place in the semi-finals.
The 39-year-old Serbian delighted a packed Beijing crowd with another remarkable display of resilience, extending his winning streak to 32 matches. Djokovic will now face former world number one Daniil Medvedev in the last four.
Djokovic described the victory as one of his best matches of the year, putting it alongside his memorable five-set win over Jannik Sinner that sent him into the Australian Open final.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion said the match gave him confidence that he can still compete with and defeat the world’s best players on the biggest stages.
“Things are a bit different nowadays. It’s hard to be consistently playing on the highest level like the youngsters,” Djokovic said, while highlighting the physical challenges he has faced during the season.
The Serbian endured a difficult start against Zverev. He double-faulted twice in the opening game, allowing the German to break immediately.
The match also witnessed a tense moment when the umpire ordered a point to be replayed after Zverev complained about a flicker in the stadium’s LED panels. The decision was met with boos from sections of the crowd.
Zverev eventually claimed the opening set, but Djokovic gradually found his rhythm. He raised the intensity in the second set and secured the decisive break with a cross-court winner to level the match.
Despite facing 19 aces from Zverev, Djokovic remained composed in the decider. He held serve to move 5-4 ahead before breaking the world number two to complete a gruelling two-hour, 34-minute victory.
Medvedev reached the semi-finals by defeating Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.
The other semi-final will feature Hubert Hurkacz and Alex de Minaur. Hurkacz defeated Karen Khachanov, while De Minaur recovered from a slow start to beat Andrey Rublev 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.
Sabalenka crashes out
The women’s draw also produced a major upset as fourth-time Grand Slam champion Aryna Sabalenka was eliminated in straight sets by Czech youngster Nikola Bartunkova.
The 20-year-old world number 34 stunned Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in one hour and 35 minutes.
Top seed Elena Rybakina is also out, meaning the China Open women’s competition has lost its top two seeds.
French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova and former champion Naomi Osaka remain among the notable contenders.
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