Djokovic defeats top seed Zverev to reach China Open semifinals | Tennis
Djokovic Advances to Semifinals in Beijing, Set to Face Medvedev
BEIJING – Novak Djokovic overcame persistent injury issues to defeat top-seeded Alexander Zverev, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, securing his place in the semifinals of the China Open on Sunday. This victory extends Djokovic’s unbeaten record in the tournament, where he is a six-time champion.
Competing in Beijing for the first time since 2015, Djokovic faced a formidable challenge from Zverev, the reigning French Open and US Open champion, who recorded 19 aces during the match.
After a shaky start, where he dropped the opening set to Zverev, Djokovic regrouped and managed to control the match’s momentum as he progressed. “I had a terrible start – two double faults at the beginning. It was quite cold, and honestly, I didn’t feel warmed up,” Djokovic acknowledged.
The match featured a brief controversy when Zverev requested a video review after claiming the electronic advertising signage had gone dark during a rally, impacting his play. Review of the footage confirmed that a portion of the signage had indeed turned off, leading the chair umpire to order a replay of the disputed point, a decision that frustrated Djokovic.
The contest pivoted late in the second set when Djokovic broke Zverev’s serve at 5-4, equalizing the match. Continuing to press the advantage in the tightly contested third set, Djokovic again broke Zverev at 5-4 to secure the win after two hours and 35 minutes. “I was trying to be aggressive and come to the net and change the pace, not giving the same pattern,” Djokovic said.
With this victory, Djokovic inches closer to a seventh title at the China Open while also preventing Zverev from gaining further ground in his pursuit of the world number one ranking. Djokovic is set to face Daniil Medvedev, who advanced after defeating Francisco Cerundolo, 7-6(4), 6-3, earlier in the day.
Rybakina Withdraws from Wuhan Following China Open Exit
In related news, world number one Elena Rybakina has withdrawn from the upcoming Wuhan Open due to a foot injury, tournament organizers announced on Sunday. Rybakina’s decision followed a surprising defeat to world number 118 Alina Charaeva in her opener at the China Open.
“I’m very sorry to the fans who were looking forward to seeing me play,” Rybakina stated in an official announcement on the tournament’s Instagram account. “I’ll take some time to rest and recover. Thank you for your understanding and continued support.”
The 27-year-old has been dealing with a persistent lower leg and foot issue, which previously forced her to retire from a quarterfinal match against Iga Swiatek in Cincinnati. Despite these challenges, Rybakina managed to make a strong return at the US Open, where she captured her third Grand Slam title and became the first player to qualify for the season-ending WTA Finals.
Subsequently, Rybakina is expected to compete later this month at the Ningbo Open in China, aiming to defend her title. The Wuhan Open is scheduled to take place from October 12 to 18.
