Novak Djokovic came from a set down to beat Alexander Zverev 4-6 6-4 6-4 in the quarter-finals of the China Open, extending his unbeaten record in Beijing to 32 wins from as many matches.
The Serbian veteran lost the opening set after a bizarre incident saw a point replayed under unusual circumstances, but he fought back to level in the second and secured a decisive break in the final game of the third set.
Djokovic admits to slow start
After the match, Djokovic admitted he found it hard to get going against Zverev, especially after being riled up by the controversial replay.
"I had a terrible start, two double faults," said Djokovic. "It was quite cold, honestly. I didn't feel warmed up, but my fault. I gave him an early break and it was hard to come back."
Praise for Zverev
Djokovic praised his opponent, calling Zverev "the best player in the world at the moment for sure."
"You don't have too many opportunities and when you don't use them, it's frustrating. I'm glad I held my nerve and played good shots in important moments. I think I would highlight my serve plus one, it was pretty accurate today," he added.
Motivation remains high
Djokovic, who faces Daniil Medvedev in the semi-finals, said he remains as motivated as ever on court.
"These are the kind of moments that define the dreams of every tennis player. It's been a struggle this year for different reasons but I'm still there, grinding, making the youngsters work for their money," he explained.
