Novak Djokovic produced another comeback win at the China Open 2026, defeating Alexander Zverev in a tense quarterfinal battle on Sunday.
The Serbian defeated the top seed 4- 6, 6- 4, 6-4 in Beijing. The match lasted 2 hours and 34 minutes, with Djokovic recovering after dropping the opening set.
Zverev made the better start and managed to take the first set 6- 4. His powerful serving and aggressive baseline play kept Djokovic under pressure during the opening stages.
📊 A 39 ans et 137 jours, Novak Djokovic 🇷🇸 est devenu le 2e joueur le plus âgé à se qualifier dans le dernier carré d’un ATP 500 (1990-2026) : ▪️ 39 ans et 167 jours : Connors 🇺🇸 (Memphis 1992) 🆕 39 ans et 137 jours : Djokovic 🇷🇸 (Pékin 2026) https://t.co/6fUgcvc0D0
— Jeu, Set et Maths (@JeuSetMaths) October 4, 2026
Djokovic refused to let the match slip away, though. The second set remained closely contested, with both players protecting their service games for long stretches.
The decisive moment came late in the set. Djokovic found the breakthrough and closed out the second set 6- 4 to level the match.
The deciding set was another tight contest. Neither player was able to establish a comfortable advantage as the pressure continued to build.
With the score at 5- 4, Djokovic produced the crucial break.
DJOKOVIC DELIVERS – AGAIN 🙌🔥 The moment @DjokerNole defeated top seed Zverev to reach a SEVENTH Beijing semi-final! #ChinaOpen https://t.co/ittM22cQUm
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 4, 2026
Djokovic vs Zverev Score
| Player | Set 1 | Set 2 | Set 3 | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Zverev | 6 | 4 | 4 | Lost |
| Novak Djokovic | 4 | 6 | 6 | Won |
The victory keeps Djokovic’s unbeaten record at the China Open intact. He has now won all 32 matches he has played at the Beijing tournament.
It also takes Djokovic past Rafael Nadal’s previous record of 31 consecutive wins at a single tournament.
Djokovic will now play Daniil Medvedev in the China Open semifinal. Medvedev also secured his place in the last four after winning his quarterfinal.
For Zverev, the defeat brings his China Open campaign to an end at the quarterfinal stage.
Djokovic, meanwhile, remains in contention for another title in Beijing and will look to continue his remarkable run when he takes on Medvedev in the semifinal.
