Novak Djokovic has looked physically compromised in both of his matches this week, requiring medical attention on each occasion and struggling to produce his best level against Nuno Borges and Bu Yunchaokete.
Now facing an elite opponent in Alexander Zverev, who is enjoying the best season of his career, Djokovic's current physical condition could leave him vulnerable.
Zverev Bids For A 12th Straight Quarterfinal Victory
- Zverev is currently on an 11-match winning streak in quarterfinals.
- He has a 5–6 record against Top 10 players this year.
- Djokovic has a 6–0 record in quarterfinals in Beijing.
- He has a 3–2 record against Top 10 players this year.
HTH - Novak Djokovic leads 9-5
| Year | Tournament | Round | Surface | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | French Open | QF | Clay | Novak Djokovic | 4-6, 6-3, 6-2, 6-4 |
| 2025 | Australian Open | SF | Hard | Alexander Zverev | 7-6(5), RET |
| 2023 | Cincinnati | SF | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 7-6(5), 7-5 |
| 2021 | Masters Cup ATP | SF | Indoors | Alexander Zverev | 7-6(4), 4-6, 6-3 |
| 2021 | US Open | SF | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 4-6, 6-2, 6-4, 4-6, 6-2 |
| 2021 | Olympics - Tokyo | SF | Hard | Alexander Zverev | 1-6, 6-3, 6-1 |
| 2021 | Australian Open | QF | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-7(6), 6-2, 6-4, 7-6(6) |
| 2021 | ATP Cup | — | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-7(3), 6-2, 7-5 |
| 2020 | Masters Cup ATP | — | Indoors | Novak Djokovic | 6-3, 7-6(4) |
| 2019 | French Open | QF | Clay | Novak Djokovic | 7-5, 6-2, 6-2 |
| 2018 | Masters Cup ATP | F | Indoors | Alexander Zverev | 6-4, 6-3 |
| 2018 | Masters Cup ATP | — | Indoors | Novak Djokovic | 6-4, 6-1 |
| 2018 | Shanghai | SF | Hard | Novak Djokovic | 6-2, 6-1 |
| 2017 | Rome | F | Clay | Alexander Zverev | 6-4, 6-3 |
Zverev Extends Remarkable 2026 Campaign
Alexander Zverev defeated Juncheng Shang comfortably to reach the quarterfinals in Beijing, winning 6-0, 6-3. He fired nine aces and won 89% of his first-serve points during the match.
This is his sixth quarterfinal appearance in seven main-draw appearances in Beijing. He won three of his previous five matches at this stage, with his most recent success coming in 2023 when he reached the semifinals.
The 29-year-old has capitalised on his opportunities well this year by winning two Grand Slam titles after Jannik Sinner and Carlos Alcaraz struggled with injuries, which helped him match his career-high ranking of No. 2 recently.
The German has posted an impressive 10 semifinal-or-better results on tour this year, including finals at Wimbledon and Madrid and semifinal appearances at the Australian Open, Indian Wells and
Miami. He will look to extend his unbeaten quarterfinal record this week.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Germany |
| Age | Born 20 April 1997 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 2 |
| Career High | No. 2 (13 June 2022) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 3 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 26 |
Djokovic Fights Through Physical Test In Beijing
Novak Djokovic survived a scare against Bu Yunchaokete, defeating him from a set down to reach the quarterfinals in Beijing, 4-6, 7-6, 6-2. He nearly squandered a 3-1 lead in the second set but won the crucial points when it mattered before producing an impressive comeback.
Despite winning both matches and extending his impressive winning streak in Beijing to 31 matches, his physical struggles have been visible. He also took a medical timeout in both matches this week.
The 39-year-old has struggled to overcome his fitness issues, which have contributed to several early exits and forced him to miss much of the season. Those difficulties have also seen him drop out of the top 10 rankings after eight years.
This is his first tour-level quarterfinal outside of Grand Slams this year. He played five tour-level events before this week and won only five matches combined, including three opening-round exits.
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Country | Serbia |
| Age | Born 22 May 1987 |
| Plays | Right-handed |
| World Ranking | No. 11 |
| Career High | No. 1 (4 July 2011) |
| Elo Ranking | No. 4 |
| Tour-Level Titles | 101 |