Outstanding tennis
It was one of Djokovic’s best performances of the season, along with his Australian Open semi-final win over Yannick Sinner. It was also a strong response after his physical struggles this summer. Over the last two sets, the 39-year-old has played excellent tennis against the reigning Roland Garros and US Open champion. He won 14 of his 15 service games and won 82 percent of his first serve points.
Zverev’s numbers were also remarkable. She hit 19 aces, didn’t double fault, hit 80 percent of her first serves and saved one point during a legendary rally. But Djokovic converted two of his five break points and played 95 of 180 points.
The world number 11 extended his lead over Zverev to 10-5 in the head-to-head. It was her 267th career Top 10 win, her fourth in 2026 and her second win over the world No. 2 this season. He also becomes only the third man to beat a Top 3 player after turning 39, after Ken Rosewall and Jimmy Connors.
The meeting also had a flash point. During one rally, Zverev missed a forehand and only then stopped playing, saying the courtside LED screen had changed the images during his serve. The chair umpire deemed it interference and ordered a replay, which angered Djokovic.
“He served, I hit a shot, he hit another shot, and only then does he challenge. Is it okay?’ Djokovic told the referee. “If the screen was bothering him, he should have stopped right after the serve, not continued. You missed the forehand and then you just complained.”
“I didn’t know if I could challenge it, so I went over and asked the referee,” Zverev replied.
“This has got to be one of the dumbest rule changes I’ve ever heard of,” Djokovic continued. “If something bothers the player, he immediately stops. Otherwise, we can rally for 30 shots, lose the point, and say,
Djokovic reached his seventh semi-final in Beijing, a record at the event and the 202nd of his career. He beat China’s Wildcard Yunchaoket Bui 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 and Portugal’s Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6 (2). Zverev, the No. 2 seed, defeated China’s Wildcard Yunchen Shang 6-0, 6-3 and Britain’s Cameron Norrie 7-6 (1), 6-4.
Medvedev, Djokovic’s next opponent, beat Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo 7-6 (4), 6-3 after winning the Hangzhou title on Tuesday for his seventh consecutive victory. Djokovic leads 10-5 against them. “Novak is crazy because he’s old, we won’t lie, but he can play so well,” Medvedev said, not even knowing he was going to play him.
In the other semi-final, No. 5 Alex de Minaur of Australia will meet Hubert Hurkacz of Poland. De Minaur came from a set down to defeat Andrei Rublev 1-6, 6-2, 6-3. Hurkacz, a Chengdu finalist last week, defeated Karen Khachanov 7-6 (2), 6-2 to become the first Pole to reach the semi-finals in Beijing.
