Novak Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev in the China Open quarterfinals in Beijing, China.
It was a comeback victory in which he won two consecutive sets after losing the first.
What significance does this victory hold for Djokovic’s tournament record and his pursuit of a title this year?
3-Line Summary
1. Djokovic defeated Zverev 2-1.
2. His China Open unbeaten streak stands at 32 matches.
3. He needs two match wins to claim the title.
Comeback Victory, 2-1, After Losing the First Set
Serbia’s Novak Djokovic (world No. 11) defeated Germany’s Alexander Zverev (world No. 2) 2-1 in sets (4-6 6-4 6-4) in the China Open singles quarterfinals of the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) Tour on October 4 in Beijing, China.
His opponent was Zverev, who had won two major tennis tournaments this year. Djokovic lost the first set 4-6 after dropping his opening service game, but he broke his opponent’s service game at 5-4 in both the second and third sets. The break in the third set was the moment that decided the match.
According to a Yonhap News report, Djokovic defeated Zverev in their first meeting in 16 months. This is why the match should be viewed through the flow of Djokovic breaking his opponent’s service game twice late in the sets, rather than being predetermined solely by the rankings gap.
32-Match Unbeaten Streak and Semifinal Opponent Medvedev
With this victory, Djokovic’s China Open unbeaten streak has reached 32 matches. Beyond simply reaching the semifinals, it was a victory that extended his record at this tournament by one more match.
Djokovic will face Russia’s Daniil Medvedev (world No. 6) in the semifinals. Medvedev reached the semifinals by defeating Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo. This match will decide who advances to the final, and Djokovic must win both of his remaining matches to win the China Open title.
Yonhap News reported that if Djokovic wins the title, it would be his first tour title of the year and his seventh China Open title overall. This is not yet an achieved result, but a condition that remains after reaching the semifinals.
Why Djokovic Said He Competes
After the match, Djokovic said that his desire to win is stimulated when he competes on equal terms with the world’s top players and plays in front of 1만5천 spectators, the Korean expression for 15,000. He also said that although this year had been difficult for various reasons, he was continuing to persevere.
For 39-year-old Djokovic, this match was both a victory that increased his unbeaten record numerically and a demonstration that he could come from behind against a highly ranked opponent. However, his seventh China Open title and first tour title of the year will not be confirmed until the result of the semifinal against Medvedev and the final are known.
References
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