The Sports Guru
Novak Djokovic gave away the opening set to the top seed in Beijing and still came through, with a break at 5-4 in each of the next two. This piece looks at how those moments swung the match, what the loss means for Alexander Zverev's ranking ambitions and why the win matters in a hard season for Djokovic.
Alexander Zverev started the match well and finished it badly. In Beijing, 39-year-old Novak Djokovic fought from a set behind to beat the tournament's top seed 4-6 6-4 6-4. He now meets Daniil Medvedev in the China Open semi-finals, while Zverev's hopes of ending the season as world number one took a knock.
A first set that belonged to Zverev
Early on, Djokovic had trouble coping with the pace his opponent generated. Zverev, 29, capitalised on a break in the opening game and went on to take the set 6-4. The pair had not met in just under 16 months, and Djokovic initially struggled to handle the power across the net.
Breaks at 5-4 decided it
Djokovic gradually found his footing. The 24-time Grand Slam winner grabbed a break at 5-4 in the second set to square the contest. The decider was tight, with little to choose between the players. Then, at 5-4 and with Zverev serving, Djokovic broke once more and closed it out.
My reading is that the scoreline tells us about composure under pressure more than about dominance. Zverev led at the start, yet the match turned on key games late in the second and third sets, with a set and a semi-final berth at stake. Djokovic struck at 5-4 both times, when the German needed to hold to stay in it.
What the result does to the rankings chase
Zverev is the world number two, and this loss set back his attempt to finish the year in top spot. The archived material does not say who currently leads the rankings or by how much, so setback is the fairest word rather than anything more final. A top seed leaving at the quarter-final stage is plainly not the way to build a ranking push.
A difficult year, a useful week
For Djokovic, the win extends his unbeaten record in Beijing to 32 matches. It also brings him closer to a seventh China Open title and to a first trophy in a 2026 that has been tough, with form and fitness both causing problems. His most recent Grand Slam title came at the US Open in 2023.
He was honest about the year afterwards. "It's been a struggle this year for different reasons," he said, adding that he is still grinding and still pushing the younger generation hard. That sums up the match well. Djokovic did not blow Zverev away early; he stayed patient and took what the key games offered.
He also talked about what drives him. "These are the kind of moments that I still play for, compete for," he said, pointing to the thrill of facing elite opposition in front of 15,000 people.
The rest of the semi-finals
Third seed Medvedev, Djokovic's opponent on Monday, earlier saw off Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7-4) 6-3. In the other half of the draw, Poland's Hubert Hurkacz defeated Karen Khachanov 7-6 (7-2) 6-2 and now plays Australia's Alex de Minaur. De Minaur was off the pace in the opening set against Andrey Rublev before turning it round to win 1-6 6-2 6-3.
Away from this match, Aryna Sabalenka was also reported to have lost to Bartunkova in Beijing.
Djokovic's case is straightforward. He has gone 32 matches without defeat in the city and has just beaten the top seed from behind. What the week brings next will be settled against Medvedev.
Frequently Asked Questions
Djokovic won 4-6 6-4 6-4, recovering from a set down against the top seed.
He faces third seed Daniil Medvedev on Monday. Medvedev beat Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (7-4) 6-3 earlier.
Zverev is world number two, and the defeat set back his hopes of finishing the year as world number one.
He has now gone 32 matches unbeaten there. He is a step closer to a seventh China Open title and a first trophy of 2026.
Research: This article uses the archived evidence supplied for this story. Story inspiration: BBC Sport's original report.