The 20th China Open delivered upsets, record-breaking performances and plenty of drama. When the dust settled, fan favorites Novak Djokovic and Zheng Qinwen stood atop the winners’ podium.
With the champions crowned, here’s a look back at the tournament’s best matches and moments.
ATP Match of the tournament
Novak Djokovic d. Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4
In a two-hour, 34-minute thriller, Djokovic beat No. 1 seed and reigning U.S. Open champion Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals. “I’m super glad to overcome this huge hurdle,” said Djokovic after reflecting on the third set. The crowd in Beijing was in support of Djokovic throughout the tournament in his matches. “They for sure were a big deciding factor, as well, to turn this match around for me,” Djokovic said. The match had three rallies with 27 or shots a piece.
Honorable mentions
Alex de Minaur d. Quentin Halys 3-6, 7-6 (5), 7-5
De Minaur won the second-set tie-break after saving a break point in the 11th game, and the tie-break was not separated by two points until the end. De Minaur broke Halys to take the 6-5 lead in the third and serve out the win.
Hubert Hurkacz d. Arthur Gea 7-6 (5), 6-7 (5), 6-2
After the first two sets went to tiebreak in the second-round match, Hurkacz managed to break Gea twice in the decisive set for the win.
WTA Match of the tournament
Zheng Qinwen d. Mirra Andreeva 7-5, 6-4
Zheng saved her best for last with this incredible high-level 1-hour, 42-minute championship match. Zheng saved three set points and won the set’s final 10 points — including breaking at love — to win the heart-pounding first set. She broke a five-deuce game to take a 5-4 lead and closed out the title with an ace. “The final tonight was also difficult,” Zheng said. “Also, the previous six matches were tough. There were different moments of toughness. When I was battling my opponents, I was also battling myself. The desire of winning internally, I was battling the internal weaknesses of myself.”
Honorable mentions
Zheng Qinwen d. Marie Bouzkova 7-6 (3), 4-6, 7-5
This high-level thriller took two hours and 54 minutes to decide, with Zheng breaking Bouzkova when needed in the third set. Zheng had 11 aces in the win. This was the third of four three-set affairs in Zheng’s first four matches of the tournament. “I feel I really play well with a lot of pressure because I want to perform as well in front of my home crowd,” Zheng said.
Karolina Muchova d. Naomi Osaka 7-5, 1-6, 7-6 (7)
Muchova finally closed this match out on her ninth match point. Muchova has won all three of their matches this year. “Every time we play, it’s a really tough match,” Muchova said. “I’d say I got a bit lucky today.”
Upset of the Tournament
Alina Charaeva vs. Elena Rybakina 3-6, 6-4, 6-3
In the second round, Alina Charaeva pulled off the improbable and won soundly against the No. 1 ranked player in the world. This marked only the second time a player has beaten the world No. 1 in their maiden match in the top spot. “I don’t have words to say,” Charaeva said after the match. Charaeva had never played ranked inside the top 30, let alone a world No. 1. Late in the third set, Charaeva broke Rybakina for a 4-2 lead. With consistent forehand shots and moving Rybakina around on the baseline, Charaeva managed to seal the victory. She fell to her knees after the final point. “I wanted to believe,” she said. “I worked so hard.”
Honorable mentions
Nikola Bartunkova d. Aryna Sabalenka 6-4, 6-3
Less than 24 hours after the top-seed exited the women’s draw, the No. 2 seed followed suit. In a shocking upset, Bartunkova defeated former world No. 1 Aryna Sabalenka in the third round. “It is the biggest win in my career,” said Bartunkova, the world’s No. 34, of the victory over the four-time grand slam champion. “Just really happy.”
Roman Safiullin vs Flavio Cobolli 6-3, 6-2
Roman Safiullin came out of nowhere in the first round, upsetting the world No. 7 and No. 4 seed in two quick sets.
By the numbers
1: Player from China to win the China Open, following Zheng Qinwen’s title. It was the 2024 Olympic gold medalist’s first WTA 1000 title.
243: Zheng’s number of winners during the China Open, the most winners in any tournament this year, including Grand Slams.
15:15: Time spent on the court by Qinwen, the most of anyone in this year’s China Open.
34-0: Novak Djokovic extended his record-breaking Beijing run to 34-0 enroute to his seventh China Open championship. It is an Open Era record for the most consecutive wins at one event to start a career.
102: ATP titles for Novak Djokovic, third all-time and one shy of Roger Federer.
7: Number of China Open championships for Novak Djokovic, who returned to Beijing after an 11-year hiatus.
450,000: Record-breaking number of fans this year who attended the China Open.
Best Quotes from the Tournament
“It’s like I'm also competing with myself before. I felt like this win today, the crowd also they are supporting me a lot, because I'm always motivated here in China Open, I want to show off my best tennis in front of them.” — Zheng Qinwen
“I try to always remind myself how special (the crowd support is), how privileged I am. Yeah, that also explains why I play well in China, why I feel good, because people make me feel like I'm Chinese, like I'm playing at home. The only thing I need is to learn Chinese and get the passport and we are good.” — Novak Djokovic
“I mean, it’s an alien honestly. I was watching the match. I mean, even from Daniil (Medvedev), it was just like there is no unforced errors to win these points. It was the same level, two hours and whatever, 30 minutes for two sets, which is insane. Novak is an alien. I don’t know how he does it honestly at this age. So good, I don't know.” — Coco Gauff on Djokovic’s win.
“I'm feeling empty. I am shocked by (Novak). This is a 40-year-old man I’m facing. In more than two hours, there’s no decline in his energy. I’m a 25-year-old, but I’m exhausted. My level dropped, but he was just starting. He was just warming up. I am speechless. I was fighting point by point. This is his tennis, his style, why he is the G.O.A.T., why he was able to defeat Federer, Nadal. It all makes sense.” — Yunchaokete Bu
“It's my first day as 24 years old, and my first win, so I just remember today is 24 years old officially. I'm not 23 years old anymore. Just to remember. Then my team, they keep telling me, right now you’re 24, you must be more mature than before. I think right now you should be more smart. Let's see if I make the change.” — Zheng Qinwen
“I would not say that I’m back. I would say that the best version of me is still upcoming in the future. I don’t want to be good in just one tournament. I want to be consistently high level in many tournaments.” — Zheng Qinwen
“Now I just feel like every match that I get to play is a gift. Like, I could be injured or something could have happened to me where I couldn’t play anymore. I’m just grateful to play. I’m grateful that my daughter is healthy, very energetic. I don't think of this in a bad way, but if I were to have lost after trying my best, I get to go home and see her, so... No matter what happens, it’s kind of a win.” — Naomi Osaka
“I’ve been going there every single day. That’s kind of part of the routine of having a walk around the Summer Palace. I put on my hat and my glasses, and I run or walk and I just go and explore the nature.” — Novak Djokovic
"Always be humble when you lose. There are reasons. It might not have something to do with what you're doing. It might be the past two months, three months. That's what resulted in the result today. Be humble, keep your heads up. Don't let the crown drop." -- Zheng Qinwen
By Dominic Achille
Weibo@ChinaOpen
WeChat Channel
Douyin@ChinaOpen
