Top seed Alexander Zverev eased past Chinese wild card Juncheng Shang to set up a quarter-final clash with Novak Djokovic at the China Open in Beijing. The German won 6-0, 6-3 in under an hour to reach the last eight of the ATP 500 tournament.
The World No. 2 was ruthless against Shang. According to ATP Stats, Zverev hit nine aces and dropped just three of 28 points behind his first serve. The 29-year-old has been in fine form this season and is now 58-14, having captured his first two Grand Slam titles at the French Open and US Open. He also leads the ATP Live Race To Turin.
Zverev's clash with Djokovic promises to be an intriguing one. The Serbian has won a record six China Open titles and has never lost a match at the event. However, Zverev will be all guns blazing as he knows he can reach the top of the world rankings if he wins the China Open and the Shanghai Masters, which begins on October 7. The German's chances of reaching World No. 1 were boosted on Saturday when current world No. 1 Jannik Sinner announced his decision to withdraw from the Shanghai Masters.
Djokovic leads the head-to-head record between the two players 9-5. Their last meeting came at Roland Garros last year, when the 24-time Grand Slam champion defeated Zverev in four sets. “I’ve got a very difficult opponent tomorrow, but I’m looking forward to those challenges as well,” Zverev said. “I’m excited about it. This is one of his favourite courts, he’s never lost here. Of course, I am going to do everything I can to make it a challenge, compete, and hopefully be successful.”
Medvedev, Rublev also advance
In other matches, third-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev beat Germany's Jan-Lennard Struff 6-4, 6-3 and will face Argentina's Francisco Cerundolo next. Another Russian, Andrey Rublev, outclassed compatriot Roman Safiullin 6-2, 3-6, 6-4 to advance to the quarter-finals.
Fifth-seeded Australian Alex de Minaur overcame Frenchman Quentin Halys 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 in two hours and 49 minutes and will face Rublev for a place in the semi-finals.
(Inputs from Reuters, ATP)
