Novak Djokovic moved to a perfect 32-0 record in Beijing, surpassing Rafael Nadal’s 31-match win streak at the French Open to set a new Open Era record for the best start at a single tour-level event. The 39-year-old Serbian secured the comeback win against the top-seeded Alexander Zverev in two hours and 34 minutes, battling past 19 aces from his opponent to keep his quest for a first 2026 trophy alive.
This victory marks a significant resurgence for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, who has navigated a year defined by fitness and form challenges. By overcoming the world number two, Djokovic also impacted the top of the rankings, as the loss dented Zverev’s ambition to finish the year as the world’s number one-ranked player. The match drew a crowd of 15,000 spectators, underscoring the veteran's continued ability to draw top-tier attendance while competing against the sport's rising stars.
Following a difficult start that saw him drop the first set after two early double faults, Djokovic found his rhythm and ultimately broke Zverev at 5-4 in both the second and third sets. The win moves him into a high-stakes semi-final showdown.
Djokovic will face third seed Daniil Medvedev on Monday for a spot in the final. Meanwhile, the tournament saw a major upset on the women's side as Nikola Bartunkova defeated top seed Aryna Sabalenka in straight sets, 6-4, 6-3.