Zverev advances to China Open quarter-final against Djokovic
Alexander Zverev defeated China’s Shang Juncheng in straight sets to reach the China Open quarter-finals, where he will face Novak Djokovic. In the women’s draw, newly top-ranked Elena Rybakina lost to 118th-ranked Alina Charaeva, while Coco Gauff, Iga Swiatek and Elina Svitolina progressed.
Alexander Zverev reached the China Open quarter-finals on Saturday with a 6-0, 6-3 victory over Chinese wildcard Shang Juncheng, setting up a meeting with Novak Djokovic. The German top seed needed 55 minutes to defeat the 250th-ranked Shang and hit nine aces. Zverev said he was pleased with the win but described his 21-year-old opponent as dangerous because he had nothing to lose.
Djokovic, who has never lost a match in Beijing, will face Zverev on Sunday. The German is also targeting the world number-one ranking currently held by Jannik Sinner. Zverev said that reaching the top was a goal, but added that his immediate focus was the difficult match against Djokovic.
Third seed Daniil Medvedev also reached the quarter-finals, beating Germany’s Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-3. He will play Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo. Fifth seed Alex de Minaur and Andrey Rublev each needed three sets to advance and will meet in the last eight.
In the women’s draw, world number one Elena Rybakina lost 3-6, 6-4, 6-3 to Armenia’s Alina Charaeva, ranked 118th. It was Rybakina’s first match since she took the top ranking after winning the US Open. She said she had experienced foot trouble and needed a week’s rest before returning to competition.
Charaeva, who is making her Beijing debut, called the result a dream. She will play Britain’s Sonay Kartal in the third round. Fourth seed Coco Gauff survived a difficult match against Camila Osorio, winning 7-6 (7/4), 4-6, 6-2.
Gauff will next meet Chinese teenager Sun Xinran, ranked 582nd. Elina Svitolina and former champion Iga Swiatek also progressed. Olympic champion Zheng Qinwen advanced after Anna Kalinskaya retired with an injury.
Zheng won 6-7 (4/7), 6-4, 3-0 and will face Marie Bouzkova.
This independently written report is based on information supplied by the named publisher. Vertrix News has not independently verified the source report.