By Richard Pagliaro | Sunday, October 4, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
Undaunted by a one-set deficit, a spirited Novak Djokovic delivered a fierce fight back to remain undefeated in Beijing.
Six-time champion Djokovic broke in the final game of the second and third sets, toppling top-seeded Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to burst into the Beijing semifinals with a record-setting victory.
Grand Slam king Djokovic drew successive forehand errors ending an exhilarating two hour, 34-minute battle before serenading celebratory fans miming playing the violin on the strings of his Head racquet.
In one of his finest performances of this season, Djokovic orchestrated a historic win raising his China Open record to 32-0 to become the first man in Open Era history to win his first 32 matches at a single event. He previously shared the record with rival Rafa Nadal, who won his first 31 matches at Roland Garros.
“Yeah, this is probably one of the two best matches that I played this year, next to the one against Sinner in the semis of Australian Open,” Djokovic said. “Just obviously very thrilled to win against probably the best
player in the world at the moment.
“Sascha has been on the row playing incredible tennis, particularly last couple of months with US Open win. He’s always been a top player. We knew that it was just a matter of time when he’s going to clinch his first Grand Slam title. He has done that this year. Not only the first one, but the second as well in the same year.”
The 39-year-old Serbian superstar advanced to his 202nd career Tour-level semifinal becoming the third man in the Open Era to post a Top-3 win after turning 39 years old.
It is Djokovic’s third semifinal of the season and first since he out-dueled Felix Auger-Aliassime in a classic Wimbledon quarterfinal last July.
Playing proactive tennis on pivotal points, Djokovic won 18 of 22 trips to net today.
“5-4 second set, 5-4 third set, ready serve, played some good points, took my opportunities, and that was enough to win the match,” Djokovic said. “Obviously a lot had to happen to put myself in that position. I think I would probably highlight my serve plus-one game tonight was really good.
“I was trying to use every short ball to come in and put pressure on him, mix it up, come to the net, be aggressive. It was a high-risk tennis at times that I played, but I had to do it, otherwise it would be very difficult to win.
“The crowd I have to mention, that they were phenomenal again. So engaged, so loud, so supportive. They for sure were a big deciding factor, as well, to turn this match around for me.”
Continuing his hunt for a 102nd career championship, Djokovic will face fellow former world No. 1 Daniil Medvedev for a spot in the final.
Earlier, Medvedev played superb tennis, dispatching Francisco Cerundolo 7-6(4), 6-3.
Hangzhou champion Medvedev scored his seventh straight win advancing to his 69th Tour-level semifinal, including his seventh semifinal of this season.
The 2023 finalist Medvedev hit his way to a milestone, joining Djokovic (2012-2015) as the second man in tournament history to reach the Beijing final four in four consecutive years.
A tight first set came to an unsightly end when Cerundolo badly bungled a smash on set point. Medvedev walked to his court-side seat with a one-set lead and confidence in his game.
The rangy Russian lace an ace out wide wrapping a love hold for a 3-2 second-set lead. Medvedev served 72 percent, pumped 10 aces and won 11 of 16 points played on his second serve.
Serving for the semifinals, Medvedev flicked a half volley off a slick serve-and-volley then blocked a forehand volley to cap a love hold. Showing a willingness to move forward, Medvedev won 12 of 16 trips to net today.
Medvedev played to an excellent standard in a one hour, 40-minute victory. The 30-year-old Medvedev improved to 41-16 on the season, which equals his 2025 win total.
Meeting for the first time since the 2025 Roland Garros quarterfinals, Zverev offered Djokovic a thumbs-up at net, won the coin toss and elected to receive.
A jittery Djokovic double faulted twice in the opening game, muttered misgivings toward coach Viktor Troicki then sent a backhand long to gift the break in the opening game.
Controversy arrived early as an elastic Djokovic stabbed back a backhand return. Zverev had a wide open expanse of court but dragged a forehand wide.
The German immediately walked over to the chair umpire and protested that the LED sponsor signage to his right went off, creating a hindrance and requested VAR review. Upon review, video showed the signage on the right side of the court did go off but not as Zverev was missing that forehand.
Instead of 30-all, chair umpire Adel Nour ruled a replay of the point. That decision annoyed Djokovic, who argued Zverev challenged after the missed forehand and not after the scoreboard flashed.
“Hold on this has been one of the most stupid changes of rules I’ve ever seen in my life,” Djokovic told the chair umpire. “If there’s a hindrance he stops immediately. He can lose a 30-shot rally then say Okay I’m going to challenge now.”
The US Open champion followed a forehand drive volley forward then blocked a backhand volley for a 2-0 lead after 14 minutes.
That brief tiff with the chair umpire fired up Djokovic, who drilled a backhand strike down the line capping a love hold.
Riding that energizing emotion, Djokovic made another stretch stab return, anticipated Zverev’s drive direction and ripped a forehand crosscourt for Love-30 in the fourth game. Djokovic pressed forward only to see a fully-stretched Zverev smack a running forehand pass.
In a punishing game, Zverev hit a second serve ace then rocked a running backhand winner down the line earning a hard-fought hold for 3-1 after 25 minutes. Djokovic answered with his second straight shutout hold.
Both champions safeguarded serve the rest of the set. Down 15-30 in the ninth game, Djokovic cracked a couple of aces, but later scattered a forehand wide to face set point.
Turning his shoulders into a heavy crosscourt forehand, Djokovic erased set point.
The 39-year-old Serbian superstar stung successive serves holding for 4-5.
Eleven years after his last Beijing appearance, Djokovic delivered dazzling defensive forehand on the run and Zverev botched a smash long to fall into a 15-30 hole. Luring the 6’6” German forward, Djokovic slammed a two-handed pass crosscourt for double break point—his first break points of the night.
Zverev spun a second serve ace wide erasing the first break point. On the second break point, the German ran down a dropper then pounced on a short lob swinging a two-handed volley winner for deuce. A cringing Djokovic raised his hands in exasperation at his shot selection.
Two points later, Zverev zapped an ace down the T to collect a high-quality 59 minute first set. Zverev served 74 percent and hit five aces in the set.
It was just the fifth set Djokovic lost in seven career China Open appearances.
Starting the second set with a bang, the pair collaborated on a wild and wondrous point that started with a Djokovic backhand drop shot. Zverev ran it down, igniting a firecracker point that saw the German pull off a tweener with pace. That drive surprised Djokovic, who framed back a self-preservation volley off the throat. Zverev was nearly on top of the net when he hit what appeared to be a finishing forehand only to see a lunging Djokovic flick fantastic forehand volley inciting roars from Beijing fans. That spectacle helped the Serbian score the opening hold.
Deadlocked at 4-All, Djokovic denied a break point with a crackling serve then navigated a tricky hold to edge ahead 5-4.
That stand sparked Djokovic who hit a forcing forehand to earn double set point. Attacking behind a forehand, Djokovic blocked a forehand volley winner to snatch the second set with his first break after about 100 minutes.
Flying forward for a leaping smash helped Zverev earn break point in the third game. A defiant Djokovic, who was yelling frustration toward his box during the game, dug in and angled off a forehand that Zverev could not control. Djokovic came through that stress test holding for 3-2.
Leaning into his two-hander, Djokovic blasted a clean backhand winner to wrap his second straight love hold for 5-4.
Stepping around his backhand, Zverev slapped a forehand into the middle of the net to drop to 30-All in the 10th game.
Playing off his front foot, Djokovic drew a netted backhand to win a 13-shot rally and earn match point.
In a punishing 27-shot rally, Djokovic finally blinked, over-hitting a backhand off a Zverev slice. Dipping a return at Zverev’s feet, Djokovic drew an errant forehand for a second match point.
When Zverev netted a final forehand, Djokovic threw a triumphant uppercut then mimed playing a violin after orchestrating a titanic two hour, 34-minute triumph.
Afterward, Djokovic said his violin playing was a tribute to daughter Tara.
“I hope my daughter was watching this match. I’m not sure,” Djokovic said. “I will check. I know my son for sure was, but my daughter I think also was. Let’s see (smiling).
“Yeah, this is a kind of a celebration that I started doing with her, because of her passion and love for violin. It just came out in that moment. It’s one of the celebrations I have. It’s also a way to, yeah, I guess express my love and connection with my daughter, but also with the Chinese fans.”
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