Alexander Zverev defeated world number 250 Juncheng Shang 6-0, 6-3 in 55 minutes, converting his second match point with an ace.
Novak Djokovic brings a 31-0 Beijing tournament record and six titles into the quarterfinal after beating Bu in three sets on Friday.
The win improved Zverev's match record against left-handed opponents to 48 wins and one loss since the 2023 French Open.
With Jannik Sinner withdrawing from the Shanghai Masters from 7 to 18 October, Zverev can become the first German world number one since Boris Becker in 1991.
Alexander Zverev advanced to the quarterfinals of the China Open in Beijing by defeating Chinese wild card Juncheng Shang 6-0, 6-3 in 55 minutes. The 29-year-old German player converted his second match point with an ace to seal the victory against the world number 250. Shang requested a medical timeout following the opening set but continued to play through to the conclusion of the match. Zverev stated after the contest that he had prepared for a demanding physical test and expressed satisfaction that Shang had managed to win games in the second set. The win extended Zverev's record against left-handed opponents to 48 wins and one defeat since the 2023 French Open, following his first-round win against British left-hander Cameron Norrie.
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In the quarterfinals, Zverev will face Novak Djokovic, who holds an undefeated 31-0 match record at the tournament in Beijing. The 39-year-old Serbian player won the tournament trophy in each of his six previous appearances in 2009, 2010, and four consecutive editions from 2012 through 2015. Djokovic reached the final eight after a Friday match against Chinese qualifier Bu, requiring nearly three hours to secure a 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 victory while showing signs of physical strain. The upcoming quarterfinal clash will mark Djokovic's 32nd career match in Beijing as Zverev seeks to hand him his first loss at the tournament venue.
“I think this is probably one of his favorite courts. In his career he has never lost here. But of course I will do everything I can to make it a challenge, to stay competitive and hopefully be successful.”
The Beijing tournament plays a role in Zverev's push to reach the world number one ranking for the first time. Current top-ranked player and defending Beijing champion Jannik Sinner of Italy continues to recover from persistent knee issues and announced on Saturday that he will miss the Shanghai Masters event scheduled from 7 to 18 October. If Zverev wins the titles in both Beijing and Shanghai, he will become the first German player to top the ATP world rankings since Boris Becker in 1991. Becker spent twelve weeks as world number one during his career. Following the Australian Open in early February, Zverev trailed the rankings leader by more than 9,000 points.
“Things went pretty smoothly for me today. I hope it continues like this for me. Tomorrow a difficult opponent awaits me. Novak has never lost here and loves the court. But I am ready.”
Zverev entered the China Open in form, having won the US Open title two and a half weeks prior to arriving in Beijing. Following that Grand Slam victory, he helped Germany defeat Croatia in the Davis Cup and contributed to Team Europe's victory against Team World at the Laver Cup. In other action in the Beijing ATP 500 tournament draw, fellow German competitor Jan-Lennard Struff was eliminated in the round of 16. Struff lost in straight sets to Russian player Daniil Medvedev by a score of 4-6, 3-6.
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Alexander Zverev defeated Juncheng Shang 6-0, 6-3 in 55 minutes at the China Open in Beijing, advancing to face six-time tournament champion Novak Djokovic in the quarterfinals.
AI text based on reports by N-tv, DIE WELT and Süddeutsche Zeitung. Published .