Djokovic needed two hours and 35 minutes to secure victory after losing his serve early in the opening set. He regained his composure and broke Zverev’s serve in the 10th game of both the second and third sets to seal the match. Despite the German firing 19 aces, Djokovic held firm at the crucial moments.

The victory extended Djokovic’s unbeaten run in Beijing to 32 consecutive matches, giving him the best winning start by a player in a men’s singles event at a single tournament in the Open Era. He surpassed Spain’s Rafael Nadal, who recorded 31 consecutive wins at the start of his French Open campaigns. The six-time champion also kept alive his hopes of claiming a seventh title in the Chinese capital.

Djokovic will face Russia’s Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals after Medvedev booked his place with a 7-6 (7-4), 6-3 victory over Argentina’s Francisco Cerundolo.