Novak Djokovic turned back the clock on Sunday, overcoming French Open and US Open champion Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 to secure a place in the semifinals of the China Open. The 39‑year‑old Serbian not only advanced but also etched a fresh record into the Open Era, becoming the first man to start a tour‑level event with a flawless 32‑0 run in Beijing. This achievement pushed him past Rafael Nadal, who previously held the best start at a single tournament with a 31‑match winning streak at the French Open. Djokovic’s dominance in Beijing is well‑documented; he has captured the title six times and entered the 2024 edition with a perfect 29‑match record at the event prior to his return.
His last appearance in the capital dated back to 2015, when he defeated Nadal in the final to claim his sixth crown there. Reflecting on his opening service games, Djokovic admitted, "I had a terrible start.
Two double faults at the beginning. It was quite cold and honestly, I didn't feel warmed up, but my fault." He went on to explain that after breaking Zverev early, he struggled to regain footing in the first set, missing several break points when Zverev served for the set at 5‑4.
Yet, midway through the opening set, Djokovic sensed his rhythm returning, especially on his own serve. The two rivals met for the first time in nearly 16 months, and the German’s power gave him an early edge, allowing Zverev to capture the first set. However, the Serbian’s patience and tactical adjustments gradually turned the tide.
The pivotal moment arrived late in the second set when Djokovic broke Zverev’s serve at 5‑4, leveling the match and shifting momentum in his favor. In the decisive third set, the contest remained tightly contested until Djokovic again broke at 5‑4, sealing the final break and ultimately the match. Their previous encounter had taken place at last year’s French Open, where Djokovic emerged victorious in four sets. This latest meeting underscored Djokovic’s capacity to thrive under pressure, even as his season has been hampered by various physical setbacks.
The win brings him one step nearer to a seventh China Open title and his first trophy of the year, while simultaneously denying Zverev a chance to strengthen his push for the world No. 1 ranking.
Looking ahead, Djokovic’s next challenge will be a showdown with Daniil Medvedev, who earlier dispatched Francisco Cerúndolo 7‑6 (7‑4), 6‑3. By achieving this victory, Djokovic joins an exclusive trio of players in ATP history—since 1973—to record a top‑three win after turning 39, alongside legends Ken Rosewall and Jimmy Connors. "To be honest, these are the kind of moments that I still play for, compete for," Djokovic said after the match. "The motivation is big obviously when you are feeling good and competing at par with the best players in the world, in front of 15,000 people of course.
These are the kind of moments that define dreams, I think, of every tennis player. It's been a struggle this year, to be honest, for different reasons, but I'm still there, still grinding, still making the youngsters work for their money. I'm just glad to push it through." Former British No.
1 Annabel Croft, speaking on Sky Sports Tennis, described the encounter as an "incredible contest." She added, "Some high‑quality, absolutely fantastic tennis between two brilliant players. Why would you ever doubt Novak Djokovic even at the age of 39? The match got better and better as well, and had some different tactical shifts for Djokovic, who after the long physical points, I thought his legs were tiring, but he came back. He threw in some drop shots, he threw in some serve‑and‑volleys early in the second set and just changed things up with the pattern of play.
Djokovic came up with the answers. It was on a knife edge right to the end but what a finish and what a treat for all those fans in Beijing." For context, Djokovic’s 32‑0 streak in Beijing now surpasses Monica Seles’ 34‑0 run at the Australian Open, Nadal’s 31‑0 record at Roland Garros, and sits alongside the historic achievements of Rosewall and Connors. The match also highlighted the evolving strategies of modern tennis, as Djokovic mixed in drop shots and occasional net approaches to disrupt Zverev’s baseline power game. Elsewhere in the tournament, top seed Carlos Alcaraz breezed through his quarter‑final at the Japan Open, needing only 83 minutes on court before Denis Shapovalov retired while trailing 7‑6 (7‑3), 2‑1, securing Alcaraz’s place in that event’s semifinals.
Fans can continue to follow the action via streaming services such as NOW and the Sky Sports app, which offer live coverage of both the ATP and WTA draws, including the China Open and the ATP 1000 Shanghai Masters.