Novak Djokovic Battles Injury

Novak Djokovic fought through injury concerns and a fiery on-court dispute to defeat top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 on Sunday, October 5, 2026. The victory in the China Open quarterfinals extends his astonishing unbeaten record at the tournament to a historic 32 consecutive wins and books a semifinal clash with Daniil Medvedev.

Djokovic's return to Beijing after an 11-year absence has been physically taxing. For the second straight match, the 39-year-old required a medical timeout during his grueling three-set win over Chinese wild card Yunchaokete Bu on Friday. A trainer treated an area around his ribs, echoing similar treatment he received in his opening match against Nuno Borges. While the exact nature of the issue remains unclear, the consecutive interventions raise questions about his recovery capacity at this stage of his career. He managed to overcome the discomfort to win both matches, but the pattern is one to watch.

The quarterfinal was briefly derailed by a bizarre incident involving the electronic advertising boards. After losing a point early in the match, Zverev complained to the chair umpire that a section of the LED signage had gone dark during the rally. Replays confirmed the signage switched off, though not precisely as Zverev struck his shot. The umpire ordered the point to be replayed, a decision that ignited Djokovic's temper. He argued vehemently with both the official and Zverev, calling the ruling "the most stupid change of rules I've ever heard in my life." He contended that a player could theoretically play out a long rally, lose the point, and then challenge based on the signage.

By defeating Zverev, Djokovic didn't just reach the semifinals. He made tennis history. His 32-0 start at the China Open is now the longest unbeaten run by any man at a single ATP event, surpassing Rafael Nadal's 31-0 start at the French Open. This perfect streak, maintained across multiple appearances since his tournament debut, shows his dominance in Beijing. Every victory now adds to a legacy statistic that may never be matched.

The win sets up a blockbuster semifinal against Russian Daniil Medvedev, who defeated Francisco Cerundolo in his quarterfinal. Djokovic acknowledged a poor start against Zverev, citing the cold conditions and his own pair of opening double faults. "I gave him an early break, and then it was hard to come back in the first set," Djokovic said. He will need a sharper beginning against the tactical challenge posed by Medvedev, especially if any physical limitations persist. The Serb's ability to problem-solve mid-match, as he did against Zverev's 19 aces, will be tested again.

• Historic Streak: Novak Djokovic's China Open record now stands at a perfect 32 wins and 0 losses, a new men's ATP record.
• Physical Question Mark: The 39-year-old has needed medical treatment in both of his matches so far in Beijing.
• Semifinal Set: He will face Daniil Medvedev for a place in the China Open final.
• Controversial Win: His quarterfinal victory over Alexander Zverev was marred by a dispute over a VAR ruling related to stadium advertising.

Djokovic's campaign in Beijing continues to be a story of resilience, blending historic achievement with immediate physical and competitive hurdles.