Novak Djokovic Sets Another Record By Improving To 32-0 At Beijing Open

BEIJING, CHINA – OCTOBER 4: Novak Djokovic of Serbia reacts against Alexander Zverev of Germany during their Men’s Singles Round of quarterfinal match on day five of China Open at the National Tennis Center on October 4, 2026 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Fred Lee/Getty Images)

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Another day, another record for 39-year-old tennis legend Novak Djokovic.

The No. 6 seed topped No. 1 Alexander Zverev, 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarterfinals of the Beijing Open to extend his perfect record at the event to 32-0. His seven semifinal appearances is also a record in Beijing.

Djokovic overcame 19 aces from Zverev by going 2-for-5 on break points.

Djokovic, the six-time Beijing champion, now holds the record for most consecutive wins at a single event without losing. Rafael Nadal began his career at Roland Garros with a 31-0 mark.

Other players have had longer winning streaks at a single event, but not without losing beforehand. Nadal holds the all-time record with 46 straight wins at the Monte-Carlo Open from 2005-13, but he had lost matches at the event before the streak began.

“I’m playing a professional tournament because I also want to win,” Djokovic told reporters in Beijing earlier this week. “Of course, if you can also compete in a place where you feel well in terms of conditions, in terms of the crowd support, in terms of the atmosphere, then of course it all adds up to even a better performance.”

Djokovic improved to 10-5 vs. Zverev and will next face No. 3 seed Daniil Medvedev in Monday’s semifinals.

No. 5 Alex de Minaur will face unseeded Hubert Hurkacz in the other semifinal.

With Zverev serving at 4-5 in the third set, Djokovic won the match on his second match point when Zverev netted a forehand.

It was a huge win for Djokovic, now ranked No. 11 in the world, because Zverev was coming off winning the U.S. Open last month over Ben Shelton and previously won Roland Garros for his first career major.

Djokovic, of course, is the all-time men’s leader with 24 Grand Slam singles titles.

In the decisive third set, Djokovic fought off a break point to hold for 2-1.

In the first set, Zverev earned a break and closed out the set on his serve with an ace up the T.

Djokovic roared back and took the second set when he charged forward on set point and put away a forehand volley into the open court.

Zverev remains more than 1,000 points behind Jannik Sinner for the world No. 1 ranking. Zverev would have had to win Beijing and follow it with a title at the upcoming Rolex Shanghai Masters to put himself in position to overtake Sinner.