Djokovic fights past Zverev in Beijing thriller to extend historic unbeaten run

[p]Playing ‌the ATP 500 event in Beijing ‌for the first time since 2015, the ‌six-time champion was pushed to the limit ‌by reigning French Open and US Open champion [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/zverev-alexander/dGbUhw9m/"]Zverev[/a], who delivered 19 aces in the ‌match.[/p][p]Meeting for the first time in nearly ‌16 months, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/djokovic-novak/AZg49Et9/"]Djokovic[/a] struggled to contain ⁠the German's ‌power in the early stages as Zverev claimed the ​opening set, but the Serb gradually worked his way into the ​contest and refused to let his opponent pull away.[/p][embed guid="933020ed-af36-4657-924d-9191f741a2ed" url="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjaHThpISKk" social-type="youtube" /][p]"[b]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[/b]," Djokovic said.[/p][p]"[b]I gave him an early break and then it ​was hard to come back in the first set[/b]."[/p][p]The clash was briefly interrupted by a moment of controversy when Zverev argued ​that LED advertising signage had gone dark during a rally and requested a video review after losing the point.[/p][p]Replays showed a section of the signage ⁠had switched off, though not ​as Zverev was missing the forehand. The chair umpire ordered the point to be replayed, prompting a frustrated exchange from Djokovic.[/p][h2]Turning point[/h2][p]The turning point came late in ⁠the second set ​when Djokovic broke at 5-4 to level the match, shifting the momentum in his favour after a tightly contested battle.[/p][p]With little ‌separating the pair in the third, the Serbian struck again at 5-4 on the Zverev serve, securing the decisive break [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/djokovic-n-AZg49Et9/zverev-a-dGbUhw9m/?mid=Wpcpd4Ug"]to seal victory[/a].[/p][p]"[b]I was trying to be aggressive and come to the net, and change up the pace, not giving the same pattern[/b]," Djokovic said.[/p][p]"[b]I am just glad that I held my nerves, played good shots at important moments, 5-4 in the second and third[/b]."[/p][embed guid="7440fd73-2d56-4cdc-a094-64cc92b665a9" url="https://x.com/TennisTV/status/2106743476520161348" social-type="twitter" /][p]The pair had not met since Roland Garros in 2025, where Djokovic won in four sets, and Saturday's encounter again highlighted the Serb's ability to deliver ‌under pressure despite a season disrupted ​by physical issues.[/p][p]With the victory, Djokovic moved ‌a step closer to a seventh China Open title and an elusive first trophy of the year, while denying Zverev another opportunity to strengthen his bid ⁠for the world ⁠number one ranking.[/p][p]Djokovic will ⁠face [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/medvedev-daniil/O8qG0Nhb/"]Daniil Medvedev[/a] in the ⁠semi-finals after the Russian defeated [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/cerundolo-francisco/lWQ3G6gB/"]‌Francisco Cerundolo[/a] [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/tennis/cerundolo-f-lWQ3G6gB/medvedev-d-O8qG0Nhb/?mid=4hKanl2L"]7-6(4), 6-3[/a] earlier on Sunday[/p]