Novak Djokovic has added another remarkable achievement to an already extraordinary tennis career.
The Serbian superstar defeated top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 at the China Open in Beijing on Sunday, reaching the semifinals while extending his unbeaten record at the tournament to 32 matches.
The victory was significant for more than just reaching the final four.
With his latest win, Djokovic moved past Rafael Nadal for the best start at a single men’s singles event in the Open Era. Nadal had previously held the record after winning his first 31 matches at Roland Garros.
Djokovic’s record now stands at 32 consecutive victories in Beijing.
It is another piece of history for a player who has spent much of his career challenging the records of his greatest rivals and creating milestones of his own.
Djokovic Reaches 32 Straight Wins in Beijing
Djokovic’s latest victory came in a difficult match against Zverev.
The German player took the opening set 6-4, putting Djokovic under immediate pressure. Rather than allowing the match to slip away, Djokovic responded by winning the second set 6-4.
The deciding set followed a similar pattern.
Djokovic eventually took it 6-4, completing a comeback victory and securing his place in the semifinals.
The result extended his perfect record at the China Open to 32 matches.
For Djokovic, the number is especially impressive because his winning run at the tournament began many years ago.
He had already established himself as a dominant player in Beijing before returning to the event this year.
His return has now produced another major record.
Djokovic Surpasses Rafael Nadal
For years, Rafael Nadal’s start at Roland Garros stood as one of the most impressive records in men’s tennis.
Nadal won his first 31 matches at the French Open, establishing a level of consistency at a single tournament that was difficult to imagine being surpassed.
Djokovic has now moved ahead of him.
His 32-0 start at the China Open gives him the best unbeaten beginning at a single men’s singles event in the Open Era.
The achievement is particularly fitting because Djokovic and Nadal spent so many years competing against each other at the top of the sport.
Their careers have been connected by some of the biggest matches in tennis history, and now Djokovic has moved past one of Nadal’s long-standing tournament records.
The difference is just one match, but reaching 32 consecutive wins at the same event is an extraordinary accomplishment.
Nadal’s Roland Garros Record Was Extraordinary
Nadal’s previous record came at Roland Garros, the tournament where he built one of the most dominant records in tennis history.
He won his first 31 matches at the French Open before Djokovic’s run in Beijing moved past that mark.
The supplied records show Nadal ultimately finished with a 112-4 record at Roland Garros.
That figure highlights just how dominant he was on the Paris clay.
His 31-0 start was part of a much larger history of success at the tournament.
For Djokovic to break the record at another major ATP event makes the achievement even more notable.
It also adds another chapter to the long-running statistical comparison between Djokovic and Nadal.
Djokovic Is a Six-Time Beijing Champion
Djokovic’s dominance in Beijing did not begin with his latest run.
He is already a record six-time champion at the China Open.
Before returning to the tournament this year, he had won all 29 of his previous matches there.
That means his perfect record was already one of the most impressive event-specific runs in men’s tennis.
Djokovic had not played in Beijing since 2015.
His previous appearance came that year, when he defeated Nadal in the final to win his sixth China Open title.
That victory became another memorable chapter in their rivalry.
After staying away from the tournament for years, Djokovic has now returned and continued exactly where he left off.
A Nine-Year Gap Did Not Stop Djokovic
One of the interesting aspects of Djokovic’s Beijing record is the length of time between his appearances.
He last competed at the tournament in 2015.
When he returned this year, the expectation was naturally different from what it would have been during his previous visits.
The sport had changed.
A new generation of players had emerged, and Djokovic himself was much further along in his career.
Yet the return has shown that his relationship with the Beijing tournament remains remarkably strong.
Instead of suffering an early defeat, Djokovic has extended his perfect record and moved to 32 consecutive victories.
The fact that the run survived such a long gap makes the record even more unusual.
The Victory Over Zverev Was Not Easy
Djokovic’s record-breaking victory was not a straightforward match.
Zverev won the first set 6-4 and put the Serbian on the defensive.
For Djokovic, losing the opening set meant he had to find a way to change the momentum.
He responded by taking the second set by the same score.
The final set again finished 6-4 in Djokovic’s favor.
The match therefore followed a clear pattern: Zverev started strongly, but Djokovic gradually took control and completed the comeback.
That kind of resilience has been a defining feature of Djokovic’s career.
Even at this stage of his career, he remains capable of recovering from difficult positions against top-level opponents.
Djokovic’s Record at a Single Event
The new record puts Djokovic at the top of a list that includes some of tennis’s greatest names.
According to the supplied records, the best starts at a single men’s singles event in the Open Era are now:
| Start | Player | Tournament |
|---|---|---|
| 32-0 | Novak Djokovic | Beijing |
| 31-0 | Rafael Nadal | Roland Garros |
| 23-0 | John McEnroe | Milan |
| 23-0 | Mats Wilander | Barcelona |
| 22-0 | John McEnroe | Sydney |
The gap between Djokovic and the players below him is striking.
Nadal’s 31-0 record had already been an extraordinary benchmark.
John McEnroe’s 23-0 starts in Milan and Sydney and Mats Wilander’s 23-0 start in Barcelona were also impressive achievements.
Djokovic, however, has now pushed the record into new territory.
Djokovic and Nadal Continue to Be Linked by Records
Even though Nadal is no longer the player directly across the net from Djokovic, their careers continue to intersect through records.
The two players spent much of their careers competing for the biggest titles and setting standards that were difficult for others to match.
Djokovic’s latest achievement is another example.
Nadal’s record at Roland Garros was associated with one of the most dominant tournament performances in tennis history.
Djokovic’s Beijing record is different in its setting, but it demonstrates the same kind of event-specific consistency.
Winning 32 consecutive matches at one tournament requires more than simply being a great player.
It requires adapting to opponents, conditions and different stages of a career while continuing to produce results year after year.
Djokovic’s Six Beijing Titles Set the Foundation
The six titles Djokovic has won in Beijing provide the foundation for his current record.
He did not simply arrive at the tournament and suddenly become dominant.
His history in Beijing stretches across multiple appearances and years.
Each successful campaign added to his winning total.
By the time he returned this year, he had already won 29 consecutive matches at the event.
Three more victories have now pushed that number to 32.
The record therefore reflects both his ability to dominate individual tournaments and his remarkable longevity.
Many players can enjoy a great week at an ATP event.
Very few can return years later and still have an unbeaten record waiting for them.
Djokovic’s 2015 Beijing Run Included Nadal
The 2015 China Open final has an especially interesting place in Djokovic’s Beijing history because Nadal was his opponent.
Djokovic defeated Nadal in that final to claim his sixth title at the tournament.
At the time, it was another chapter in their long rivalry.
Years later, the significance of that victory looks somewhat different.
Djokovic is now using the same tournament to establish a record that surpasses one of Nadal’s own achievements.
The connection between the two players gives the Beijing record an additional layer of meaning for tennis fans who followed their rivalry for more than a decade.
Experience Still Matters for Djokovic
Djokovic’s latest performance against Zverev also highlights the value of experience.
At 39, Djokovic is competing against players from a younger generation.
Zverev is one of the leading names of that generation, and he showed his quality by taking the opening set.
Djokovic’s response demonstrated why he remains such a difficult opponent.
He did not panic after losing the first set.
Instead, he found a way to win two consecutive sets and finish the match.
That ability to manage difficult moments has helped Djokovic build one of the most successful careers in tennis.
The Beijing Run Is Still Going
One important detail about the record is that Djokovic’s Beijing run has not ended.
The 32-0 figure is his current start at the event, not necessarily the final number.
He has reached the semifinals, meaning another opportunity awaits him to extend the streak.
That makes the next stage of the China Open particularly interesting.
If Djokovic wins his semifinal, the record will move to 33 consecutive victories.
A further tournament victory would take it even higher.
For now, however, 32-0 is already enough to place him alone at the top of the Open Era record list for the best start at a single men’s singles event.
Another Milestone in Djokovic’s Career
Djokovic’s career has been filled with records, titles and statistical milestones.
Yet achievements like this remain impressive because they require a very specific kind of consistency.
A player can win Grand Slam titles and still struggle to dominate one particular event over many appearances.
Djokovic has managed to do both.
His six China Open championships established his connection with Beijing, while his current run has taken that success to another level.
Breaking Nadal’s record also makes the achievement more memorable.
For fans who followed the Djokovic-Nadal rivalry, seeing one player surpass the other’s long-standing tournament mark is another reminder of how extraordinary both careers have been.
Novak Djokovic’s Historic Beijing Record
Novak Djokovic has once again added his name to the history books.
His 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 comeback against Alexander Zverev sent him into the China Open semifinals and extended his unbeaten record in Beijing to 32 matches.
That number is now the best start at a single men’s singles event in the Open Era.
Nadal previously held the mark with 31 straight wins at Roland Garros.
Djokovic has now moved beyond it.
His achievement is even more impressive when considering that he is a record six-time champion in Beijing and had not played at the tournament since 2015.
The Serbian’s return has been anything but ordinary.
He has faced a top opponent, recovered after losing the opening set and continued a winning streak that already existed long before this year’s tournament began.
At 32-0, Djokovic’s Beijing record stands as another remarkable chapter in his career.
And because he has already reached the semifinals, the story may not be finished yet.