Novak Djokovic’s unbeaten run at the China Open stretches back 17 years, but it faces a stern test in the quarterfinals against Alexander Zverev. Djokovic extended his flawless record to 31-0 in Beijing after overturning a set deficit to defeat local hopeful Yunchaokete Bu. This run now equals Rafael Nadal’s record for most consecutive wins at a single tournament since their respective debuts, a feat Nadal set at Roland Garros.
The 39-year-old Serbian will meet Zverev, who is widely considered to be in the best form of his career. Their last ATP Tour encounter came in the 2025 French Open quarterfinals, where Zverev won the first set before Djokovic rallied to win 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 in front of a packed crowd at Court Philippe-Chatrier. That win put Djokovic ahead 9-5 in their rivalry, which started in 2017. Their initial meeting was the Italian Open final that year, won by Zverev in straight sets.
Since then, Djokovic has taken six of their next seven ATP Tour matches, including quarterfinal clashes at the Australian Open and Roland Garros. Zverev ended a four-match losing streak against Djokovic at the Tokyo Olympics semifinals, later capturing his first gold medal. Last year, Zverev claimed his first Grand Slam victory over Djokovic, but it came via retirement as Djokovic withdrew injured during their 2025 Australian Open semifinal, with Zverev leading by a set.
Zverev’s recent schedule has been demanding. He has competed in the Canadian Open, Cincinnati Open, US Open, Davis Cup, Laver Cup, and now the China Open, making this his 16th tour-level event of the year, excluding team competitions. Despite the packed calendar, Zverev gave a positive fitness report at the China Open press conference. Asked about the quick turnaround from the Laver Cup, he said, “My tank is fine. I’m not worried about that. I said it before: I think this part of the season, you’re tired because you’re mentally tired.”
He added, “When you have something to play for, I will feel fine. I know that I’m capable of recovering. I know that I’m capable of playing good tennis. I have to trust my ability to do that.” Zverev’s confidence in his physical and mental endurance will be tested against Djokovic’s experience and consistency on the Beijing courts.
Djokovic’s resilience was on display against Yunchaokete Bu, where he came from behind to secure victory. The match confirmed his ongoing dominance at the China Open, where he has not dropped a single match since his debut. This consistency has drawn comparisons with Nadal’s clay court supremacy at Roland Garros, though Djokovic is now aiming to extend his streak further against a player who has steadily closed the gap in their meetings.
As both players prepare for their quarterfinal showdown, the focus will be on whether Djokovic can maintain his perfect record in Beijing or if Zverev will finally end the Serb’s long-standing winning streak. The China Open quarterfinal is set to be a defining moment in their rivalry and a significant chapter in this season’s ATP Tour.
According to Yahoo Sports.
