Djokovic Stuns Top Seed Zverev at China Open

Serbian tennis player Novak Djokovic rallied to defeat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday at the China Open, extending his undefeated streak in Beijing to 32 matches and securing a semifinal clash with Daniil Medvedev.

Despite dropping the opening set and facing 19 aces from the German world number two, the 39-year-old Serbian broke Zverev in the final game of the two-hour, 34-minute battle to complete the comeback.

Calling the victory one of his best performances of the year, Djokovic noted that such battles serve as “evidence to me that I can still beat the best players in the world on the biggest stage.”

He added, “Things are a bit different nowadays. It’s hard to be consistently playing on the highest level like the youngsters,” attributing his win to a mix of high-risk play and feeling physically strong despite earlier health struggles.

Medvedev booked his semifinal spot against Djokovic by defeating Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7/4), 6-3.

In the other men’s semifinal matchup, Hubert Hurkacz will face Alex de Minaur after Hurkacz beat Karen Khachanov and de Minaur rallied past Andrey Rublev 1-6, 6-2, 6-3.

In the women’s draw, 20-year-old Czech player Nikola Bartunkova stunned top seed Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3 in the third round.

“I focused on myself, to be calm,” said Bartunkova, who ranks 34th globally. “She’s a legend… so I’m really happy that I won the match.”

Sabalenka’s exit leaves the tournament without its top two seeds following Elena Rybakina’s earlier elimination.

Elsewhere in the draw, French Open champion Mirra Andreeva, Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova, and 2019 winner Naomi Osaka all advanced to the round of 16.