By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 4, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
A showdown of Grand Slam champions brought elevation and elation to Beijing.
Novak Djokovic and Alexander Zverev collaborated on this classic point in the second set of their China Open quarterfinal.
A wild and wondrous point started simply with a Djokovic backhand drop shot. Zverev ran it down, igniting a firecracker point that saw the German pull off a tweener with pace. Djokovic framed back a self-preservation volley at net, Zverev ran it down and threw down a forehand from nearly on top of the net only to see a lunging Djokovic finish it with a fantastic forehand volley inciting roars from Beijing fans.
That spectacle helped the Serbian score the opening hold. Djokovic carried a perfect 31-0 Beijing record into tonight’s quarterfinal, but Zverev took the first set, 6-4, saving two break points to serve out the set.
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