Medvedev Sweeps Zverev for 60th Semifinal in Beijing – Tennis Now
By Richard Pagliaro | Monday, September 29, 2025
Photo credit: Clive Brunskill/Getty
Daniil Medvedev admits “tennis can drive you crazy.”
This week in Beijing, a crafty Medvedev continues to find clarity on court.
In one of his cleanest matches in months, Medvedev broke serve three times dismissing Alexander Zverev 6-3, 6-3 to his 60th career semifinal, including his third China Open final four appearance.
Medvedev won 30 of 35 first-serve points and saved all four break points he faced in a one hour, 22-minute triumph.
“I played great,” Medvedev said. “I was controlling the game pretty well. I felt like I had all the chances. I think I put a lot of pressure on him.
“I think I played great and I’m happy to win.”
60th tour-level SF! 👏
Daniil Medvedev defeats Alexander Zverev 6-3 6-3 to claim a 14th victory over the German and move into the last 4 in Beijing! 🔥 #ChinaOpen pic.twitter.com/566xVq42jr
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) September 29, 2025
It was Medvedev’s fifth straight win over Zverev as he has won 14 of their 21 career meetings. Medvedev posted his second Top 10 win of the season coming more than three months after he beat Zverev on the grass of Halle in June.
Former US Open champion Medvedev scored his first hard-court win over a Top 5-ranked opponent since he beat Andrey Rublev at the 2023 Nitto ATP Finals, snapping an 0-10 slide vs. the Top 5 on hard courts.
Medvedev, who split with long-time coach Gilles Cervara after his US Open first-round loss to Benjamin Bonzi last month, has been working with former Australian Open champion Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke. While the 29-year-old Russian said it’s too soon in this new coaching partnership to gauge if the relationship will work, he’s pleased with his progress so far.
“About Thomas and Rohan, look, it’s just a start. It’s tough to say for sure and exactly,” Medvedev said. “Till the end of the season we’re just trying. But for sure Rohan cannot travel as much as Thomas. Thomas more on a day-to-day basis. Rohan a bit more sometimes here and there, talking what he thinks.
“So far it’s been great and it’s been a lot of fun to work with them.”
The eighth-seeded Medvedev will be out for revenge when he faces American Learner Tien for a spot in the final.
World No. 52 Tien held a 4-6, 6-3, 3-0 lead over Lorenzo Musetti when the fourth-seeded Italian retired sending the left-hander into his first Tour-level semifinal.
The 19-year-old Tien was ranked No. 121 when he shocked Medvedev in a five-set thriller in the Australian Open second round last January.
“It’s great but I always want more,” Medvedev said. I haven’t been doing my best in sometime so I’m happy to be back [in the semifinals]…
“I definitely played as I wanted to today, not missing much, aggressive when I needed to, defensive when I needed to running well. Looking forward to semifinals and improving more.”
Though Zverev owns one of the game’s most potent serves, he did not manage a single ace against the rangy Medvedev, who put a premium on every point.
On his second set point, Medvedev zapped his third ace to seal the 39-minute opening set.
Medvedev won 17 of 19 first-serve points and saved all four break points he faced in the opening set.
Midway through the second set, Medvedev’s unrelenting baseline pressure caused the German to crack.
Facing his second break point of the game, Zverev steered a forehand down the line wide dropping serve to fall into a 3-4 hole. Zverev tossed his Head racquet to the court incurring a code violation warning in the process.
The Zverev forehand failed him at crunch time. Zverev netted a forehand then botched a backhand volley to face match point.
The second seed sailed a final forehand—his 24th unforced error of the match–to end it in one hour, 22 minutes.
