World no. 2 Alexander Zverev withdrew from the ATP 500 event in Beijing, taking a break after conquering the Laver Cup with Team Europe. The German is 57-18 in 2024, winning one title and playing consistent tennis. Zverev lost the Roland Garros final to Carlos Alcaraz and fell to Taylor Fritz at Wimbledon and the US Open, embracing another season without a Major title.
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The Hamburg native will seek a notable title in the remaining months of the season, entering Shanghai, Paris, the ATP Finals and the Davis Cup Finals. Alexander debuted in Beijing nine years ago, losing in the first qualifying round.
A year later, he returned to the Chinese capital and defeated Dominic Thiem and Jack Sock before losing to David Ferrer after a massive battle. The German competed in Beijing as world no. 4 in 2017, reaching the semi-final and suffering a straight-sets defeat to Nick Kyrgios.
Malek Jaziri stunned Zverev in 2018, and he returned stronger 12 months later, notching another semi-final.
Beijing closed its gates for three years due to the pandemic, welcoming the world's leading players last year.
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Alexander prevailed over Diego Schwartzman, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and Nicolas Jarry, booking a place in his third Beijing semi-final. The German faced world no. 3 Daniil Medvedev and experienced a 6-4, 6-3 loss in an hour and 25 minutes, wasting another chance to fight for the trophy at the prestigious event.
It was their 17th duel, and the Russian notched the tenth victory over his good friend, outplaying him on serve and return. Zverev fought well but could not match the rival's level, losing serve two times and ending his campaign in the last four.
Daniil hit 23 service winners and tamed his strokes superbly, finishing the duel with 20 winners and 13 unforced errors. Alexander landed ten winners and 20 mistakes, squandering all four break points and missing a chance to prolong the battle.
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Medvedev dropped 13 points behind the initial shot, outplaying his good friend in the shortest and most advanced rallies.
Alexander Zverev will miss the Beijing Open for the first time in ten years.
The Russian made a reliable start, holding at love in the first game of the encounter with a service winner. The German responded with an unreturned serve in the second game, setting the tone for the upcoming ones. Zverev forced the rival's mistake in the sixth game, locking the result at 3-3 after a fluid 20 minutes.
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Daniil struggled behind the initial shot in the seventh game, facing two break points and denying them to remain on the positive side. Alexander dropped five points in the opening four service games, and it all changed in the pivotal moment when he served to stay in the set at 4-5.
He erased two set points but failed to bring the game home, with Medvedev firing a forehand winner on the set point, wrapping up the opener 6-4 after 44 minutes. The Russian struggled behind the initial shot at 1-1 in the second set, offering his rival two break points and saving them with unreturned serves.
Zverev looked good behind the initial shot, at least until 3-3.
The German got broken in the eighth game after the Russian's forehand down the line winner, falling 5-3 behind and sealing his fate in this duel.
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Medvedev served for the victory in game nine and generated three match points with three powerful serves. He converted the first with an ace, moving over the top in style and extending Zverev's losing streak in the Beijing Open semi-finals.
Alexander enjoyed another notable Laver Cup campaign last weekend, helping Team Europe win their fifth trophy, the first since 2021. On the first day, the German joined forces with Carlos Alcaraz in a 7-6, 6-4 loss to Taylor Fritz and Ben Shelton in an hour and 35 minutes.
The Americans lost serve once and delivered two breaks from as many opportunities, prevailing in the opener and sealing the deal with the crucial break at 4-4 in set number two. Alexander fell to Taylor Fritz 6-4, 7-5 on day two in just under two hours.
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World no. 2 did not feel well physically. However, he gave everything to secure points for Team Europe, leading 4-2 in the second set before losing ground. The American dominated with his first serve and saved four of five break points.
Fritz grabbed three breaks, playing better in the crucial moments of both sets and extending his winning streak against Zverev. The German had to beat Frances Tiafoe on day three to keep his squad in contention. Two rivals produced a cracker, and Alexander prevailed 6-7, 7-5, 10-5 in two hours and 34 minutes.
There were no breaks in the opening set, and Frances claimed it with one mini-break. The American forged a 4-2 lead in set number two, looking good to seal the deal for Team World. However, world no. 2 pulled the break back in the eighth game and secured another in the closing stages, introducing a match tie break.
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They traded six consecutive mini-breaks in the first half before Zverev stepped in, rattling off the final five points and keeping Team Europe alive.
