Novak Djokovic produced another major comeback at the China Open by defeating top seed Alexander Zverev 4 6 6 4 6 4 in Beijing. The result was reported on October 5, 2026, after the Serbian star recovered from a difficult start to reach the semifinal. Djokovic entered the match with questions about his fitness after dealing with injury problems, but the veteran once again showed his experience when the match became difficult.
Zverev won the first set and appeared to be in control. The German hit 19 aces and put pressure on Djokovic with powerful serves, making it difficult for the Serbian to find a rhythm. Djokovic refused to panic, however, and changed his approach by extending rallies and waiting patiently for chances to break Zverev’s serve.
The Serbian gradually found his way back into the contest and won the second set 6 4 to level the match. In the final set, Djokovic again found a way to control the most important points. He disrupted Zverev’s rhythm and closed the match after a long battle, completing another comeback against a top ranked opponent.
The win keeps Djokovic’s perfect record at the China Open alive and sends him into another semifinal at a tournament where he has enjoyed major success. Djokovic is a six time China Open champion and had not played the ATP 500 event in Beijing since 2015 before returning this year. His comeback has attracted huge attention from Chinese tennis fans, who continue to follow the Serbian star closely.
At Djokovic’s age, every deep tournament run carries extra importance. He has won more major titles than any other men’s player and is still competing with a younger generation of stars. His victory over Zverev provides another example of his ability to remain competitive at the highest level, even when fitness concerns create doubts before a match.
Zverev’s defeat was also significant because he entered the tournament as the top seed and had recently won the French Open and US Open. His 19 aces showed how strong his service game was during the match, but Djokovic gradually neutralized that advantage by making rallies longer and putting more pressure on the German’s movement and decision making.
Djokovic will now face Daniil Medvedev in the semifinal. The Russian defeated Francisco Cerundolo to earn his place in the last four and will provide Djokovic with another major test. Medvedev is known for his defensive skills and ability to turn long rallies into physical battles, meaning Djokovic will need to recover quickly after his demanding quarterfinal.
The China Open is part of the late season tennis calendar, when players are competing for ranking points and preparing for the final major events of the year. For Djokovic, the tournament also offers a chance to show that he can still compete with the best players despite concerns about his fitness. The comeback against Zverev should give him additional confidence as he prepares for the semifinal.
The match also showed why Djokovic remains one of the most difficult players to defeat. Even when he loses the first set, he can change his tactics, remain patient and pressure an opponent for several hours. Zverev had the advantage early but could not maintain it as Djokovic gradually took control of the contest.
The victory has also created excitement among Chinese fans. Djokovic has a long relationship with the Beijing tournament and remains one of the sport’s biggest international stars. His semifinal against Medvedev will attract major attention, with another victory putting the six time champion closer to another China Open title.
The October 5 result is therefore more than a single match victory for Djokovic. It shows that he still has the ability to defeat top ranked players in difficult conditions and recover from setbacks during important matches. His next meeting with Medvedev will reveal whether the comeback continues, but for now the six time champion is through to the semifinal while Zverev leaves Beijing after another tough loss to one of tennis’s greatest competitors.
