Medvedev books Zverev showdown after straight-sets win in Beijing

Daniil Medvedev is starting to look more and more like his old self in Beijing, and it’s just in time for a heavyweight showdown. The Russian eased past Alejandro Davidovich Fokina 6-3, 6-3 Sunday to set up an enticing China Open quarterfinal clash with Alexander Zverev.

It has been a turbulent 2025 for Medvedev, who entered the week with a 29-19 record and his lowest ranking in more than six years. Yet Beijing has long been a stage of promise for the former US Open champion, who was a finalist here in 2023 and is now a three-time consecutive quarterfinalist.

Against Davidovich Fokina, the former World No. 1 found the precision and timing that have often eluded him this season, breaking the Spaniard four times across the 88 minutes the match went on.

“Maybe the feeling of the game, the general awareness [which I have been] lacking lately,” Medvedev reflected when asked what qualities he would borrow from his 2023 self. “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.”

The result comes after a month of transition for Medvedev, who split for his long-time coach Gilles Cervara following a disappointing first-round exit at this year’s US Open. He has since begun working with Thomas Johansson and Rohan Goetzke as he seeks a late-season surge.

A title run in Beijing would propel him to 14th in the world rankings and deliver his first trophy since Rome 2023. Standing in his way, awaiting in the quarters, is nemesis Zverev, who had to dig deep to oust Frenchman Corentin Moutet 7-5, 3-6, 6-3 in a rugged two-plus-hour contest.

Moutet, playing at a career-high ranking, kept Zverev off balance with a mix of spins and angles, striking 40 winners in the process. But the German responded with a surge from 0-1 down in the final set, winning six of the next eight games to secure his place in the last eight.

“He plays good, there’s no secret about it,” Zverev said of Moutet. “The way he played in the summer and how much he improved was phenomenal. He’s a very tricky opponent so I’m happy to be through.”

If history is any indication, the Medvedev-Zverev quarterfinal could be another bruising battle — one the Russian leads 13-7, having won seven of their last eight encounters. Zverev, however, owns an impressive 14-5 record in Beijing, where he has been to three semifinals.