Djokovic beats Zverev to reach China Open semis; Sabalenka upset
In short
At the 2026 China Open in Beijing, second seed Sabalenka lost 0-2 to 26th seed Bartunkova in the women's third round, leaving both top women's seeds out. Sixth seed Djokovic came from a set down to beat top seed Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and reach the men's semifinals. Third seed Medvedev also advanced to the men's semifinals.
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At the 2026 China Open in Beijing, second seed Sabalenka was eliminated in the women's third round on Oct. 4, losing 0-2 to 26th seed Bartunkova, while sixth seed Djokovic came from a set down to beat top seed Zverev in the men's quarterfinals and reach the semifinals, China News Service reported. Xinhua also reported that Djokovic reached the men's semifinals and Sabalenka was eliminated. Both of the top two women's seeds are now out after top seed Rybakina exited the previous day, China News Service said. [ 1 , 2 ]
China News Service reported that Sabalenka, described as a Belarusian star and the No. 2 seed, lost 4-6, 3-6 to 20-year-old Czech player Bartunkova. The loss ended Sabalenka's run in the last 32, and it was Bartunkova's first career win over a top-five player, the outlet said. The report said Sabalenka was in low form during the match. [ 2 ]
Fourth seed Andreeva, the newly crowned French Open champion, beat Russia's Kudermetova 6-4, 6-1 after trailing 2-4, winning 10 of the next 11 games to advance to the last 16, China News Service reported. Fifth seed Noskova, last year's runner-up, beat Switzerland's Golubic 2-0. In women's doubles, the Chinese pair Tang Qianhui and Xu Yifan lost in straight sets to second seeds Dabrowski and Stefani in the first round. [ 2 ]
In the men's quarterfinals, top seed Zverev, this year's French Open and US Open champion, faced sixth seed Djokovic, a six-time China Open champion. Djokovic lost the first set 4-6 but won the next two 6-4, 6-4 to advance, extending his China Open winning streak to 32 matches, China News Service reported. Third seed Medvedev beat Argentina's Cerundolo 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the semifinals. In men's doubles, China's Shang Juncheng and Kazakhstan's Bublik lost 4-6, 4-6 to the Dutch pair Arends and Pel in the semifinals. [ 2 ]
China News Service reported that on Oct. 5, Zheng Qinwen will play 18th seed Bouzkova for a place in the women's last 16, and Sun Xinran, the new US Open junior girls' champion, will face former China Open champion and third seed Gauff. In the men's semifinals, Medvedev will play Djokovic, while Hurkacz will face de Minaur. [ 2 ]
Why it matters
The results reshape the knockout stage of the 2026 China Open: both top women's seeds have been eliminated, and Djokovic advanced while extending his China Open winning streak to 32 matches, according to China News Service. The men's semifinals will feature Djokovic against Medvedev. The tournament is being played at the National Tennis Center in Beijing.
Key facts
- China News Service reported that the 2026 China Open continued on Oct. 4 at the National Tennis Center in Beijing. [ 2 ]
- Women's second seed Sabalenka lost 0-2 to 26th seed Bartunkova in the third round, ending her run in the last 32. [ 2 ]
- It was Bartunkova's first career win over a top-five player, according to China News Service. [ 2 ]
- Both top two women's seeds are out after top seed Rybakina exited the previous day. [ 2 ]
- Djokovic reached the men's singles semifinals. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Djokovic beat top seed Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 and extended his China Open winning streak to 32 matches. [ 2 ]
- Third seed Medvedev beat Cerundolo 7-6(4), 6-3 to reach the men's semifinals. [ 2 ]
- On Oct. 5, Zheng Qinwen will face 18th seed Bouzkova, Sun Xinran will play third seed Gauff, and the men's semifinals will pair Medvedev with Djokovic and Hurkacz with de Minaur. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Sabalenka was eliminated from the women's singles at the 2026 China Open. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Djokovic reached the men's singles semifinals at the 2026 China Open. [ 1 , 2 ]
- Both top women's seeds are out of the tournament. [ 2 ]
- Djokovic beat Zverev in the men's quarterfinals. [ 2 ]
- Medvedev reached the men's semifinals. [ 2 ]
- China News Service reported the China Open continued on Oct. 4 in Beijing. [ 2 ]
Still unclear
- How top seed Rybakina was eliminated is not stated; China News Service says only that she went out the previous day. The documents give no score or opponent for Rybakina's exit.
- The exact schedule and start times for the Oct. 5 matches are not provided. China News Service lists fixtures for Oct. 5 but no times.
- The documents do not give a complete set of results for the China Open day; they report selected matches. The coverage is a roundup focused on seeded players and Chinese players.