Daniil Medvedev, the former world No. 1, has experienced significant fluctuations in his performance this season, which has seen him drop to 18th in the ATP rankings after an early exit at the US Open. However, Medvedev appears to have found his form again at the China Open in Beijing, advancing to the quarter-finals following a convincing victory over Alejandro Davidovich Fokina of Spain, winning the match 6-3, 6-3.
Reflecting on his game, Medvedev acknowledged the challenges he has faced, stating, “Maybe the feeling of the game, the general awareness [which I have been] lacking lately. I’m trying to get that back, and that’s also why I’m happy today. To win many return games, you need to react fast on the return, run faster on the next shot. Everything needs to be better, but it’s not too bad.”
His regained momentum will be put to the test in the upcoming match against second seed Alexander Zverev. Zverev reached the quarter-finals after a hard-fought three-set match against Frenchman Corentin Moutet, eventually prevailing 7-5, 3-6, 6-3. Moutet’s skillful play kept Zverev under pressure, but the German’s powerful shots helped him rally from a break down in the final set.
Zverev praised Moutet’s performance, stating, “He plays good, there’s no secret about it. The way he played in the summer and how much he’s improved was phenomenal. He’s a very tricky opponent so I’m happy to be through.” However, Zverev also revealed he struggled with physical issues during the match, having received an injection in his back prior to the tournament. He expressed disappointment over feeling less than optimal but acknowledged that he managed to elevate his game when it counted.
In their head-to-head matchups, Medvedev holds a psychological edge with a 13-7 record against Zverev, having won seven of their last eight encounters. Yet, Zverev’s track record in Beijing, where he has reached the semi-finals on three occasions, adds an intriguing layer to their upcoming clash.
Both players have stakes in qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin later this year. Zverev is currently ranked fourth in the Race to Turin, putting him in a favorable position, while Medvedev, a former champion of the prestigious tournament, is looking to recover ground from his current 21st ranking. A victory in Beijing could propel him to 14th.
Earlier in the tournament, Lorenzo Musetti continued his positive trajectory after suffering heartbreak in the Chengdu final, defeating French qualifier Adrian Mannarino 6-3, 6-3 to set up a quarter-final showdown with American teenager Learner Tien. Musetti, the fourth seed and presently seventh in the Race to Turin, is aiming for a place at the ATP Finals.
Meanwhile, Tien made headlines by defeating Italy’s Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 6-2 to reach his fifth Tour quarter-final, where he remains unbeaten.
The quarter-final lineup at the China Open is shaping up with exciting matches, including Jannik Sinner versus Fabian Marozsan, Alex de Minaur against Jakub Mensik, and the highly anticipated clash between Medvedev and Zverev.
