Medvedev Shocks Zverev in Beijing: A Step Towards Greatness, ‘But I Always Crave More’
Former World No. 1 to challenge Tien in semi-final showdown
September 29, 2025
Fred Lee/Getty Images
Daniil Medvedev boasts a 14-7 record in his ATP Head2Head against Alexander Zverev.
By ATP Staff
Could this be the pivotal tournament that brings Daniil Medvedev back to his peak performance?
The ex-World No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings delivered an impressive 6-3, 6-3 win on Monday night against World No. 3 Alexander Zverev, advancing to the semi-finals of the China Open.
The 29-year-old has now reached the 60th tour-level semi-final of his journey—his first since June’s event in Halle. He will face the #NextGenATP star, Learner Tien, who previously defeated him at the Australian Open this year, for a spot in the final.
“It’s fantastic, yet I always strive for more,” Medvedev reflected on his achievement. “In the early stages of your career, stats hold significance. As you accomplish more, it shifts to simply performing at your best. I haven’t quite hit that stride for a while, so I’m thrilled to be back in the semis, playing excellently against formidable rivals.”
According to Infosys ATP Stats, Medvedev successfully saved all four break points he faced, winning an impressive 86% of his first-serve points, keeping the pressure at bay against the second-seeded Zverev.
“I played brilliantly, maintaining control throughout the match,” Medvedev noted. “I felt I capitalized on my opportunities well. He only managed to apply pressure on my serve for one game, and fortunately, I performed strongly to save it. Beyond that, I dictated the play and I’m delighted to secure the victory.”
Before this match, Medvedev’s record against Top-10 opponents this season stood at 1-2, with his single win occurring against Zverev in Halle. He is now on a five-match winning streak against Zverev and leads their ATP Head2Head series 14-7.
This match marked Medvedev’s first Top-5 victory on hard courts since triumphing over Andrey Rublev at the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals—he had been 0-10 in such matches since then.
“I executed my game plan effectively today, minimizing mistakes, being aggressive when necessary, and defensive at the right moments,” Medvedev expressed. “I’m definitely making progress and eager to continue improving.”
