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Djokovic beats Zverev to extend China Open record to 32–0
His October 4 comeback set up a semifinal against Daniil Medvedev. The second and third sets each ended with Djokovic breaking serve at 5–4.
Novak Djokovic came back to beat top seed Alexander Zverev 4–6, 6–4, 6–4 in the China Open quarterfinals in Beijing on October 4, 2026. The victory preserved his unbeaten record at the tournament and took him into the semifinals.
Two late breaks changed the match
An opening-game break gave Zverev the first-set advantage. The more revealing sequence came at 4–4 in the second: Djokovic saved a break point, held for 5–4, then broke Zverev to force a deciding set.
Djokovic saved another break point early in the third set. Again, he reached 5–4 and won Zverev’s service game to finish. Each decisive break came in the 10th game of its set, giving Djokovic the two-game margin to close it at 6–4.
What the statistics show
Zverev led the ace count: Djokovic’s official match report records 19 for the German and four for Djokovic. The same report puts total points at 95–85 for Djokovic. The ace tally gives only part of the picture: the match was decided by games and sets, including those two late breaks.
What 32–0 means
The streak covers Djokovic’s matches at this tournament, beginning with his debut in 2009. China Open’s report says the win moved him past Rafael Nadal’s unbeaten start at Roland Garros. Djokovic’s website defines the record as a men’s singles start at a tour-level event in the Open Era.
He has six China Open titles; 32–0 is his match record. Reuters reported that his semifinal opponent would be Medvedev, who beat Francisco Cerundolo 7–6(4), 6–3 earlier on October 4. A seventh China Open title remained two wins away.