Frustrations Boil at China Open As Alexander Zverev Slams Racket Mid-match in Shocking Defeat to Daniil Medvedev

Alexander Zverev faces a tough challenge once again. The World No. 3 put together a good run at his first stop of the Asian swing in Beijing, reaching the quarterfinals after surviving a scare against Corentin Moutet. He dropped the second set to the Frenchman but rallied in the third to book a clash with Daniil Medvedev. The two share a long rivalry, with Zverev riding a four-match losing streak against the Russian. This time, the frustration of another defeat boiled over into his emotions.

On Monday, at the China Open, Zverev looked set for one of his better shots at finally turning the tables on Medvedev. Instead, the night on Diamond Court slipped away quickly. The German looked out of rhythm from the very first games and handed over the opening set 6-3 after a shaky display.

The second set brought a flicker of hope. Both players held serve until 3-3, but then Medvedev pounced. He broke for a 4-3 lead as Alexander Zverev completely lost his cool. The German smashed his racket to the ground, sending it skidding across the court in anger. The outburst did little to spark a turnaround. Medvedev stayed steady, closing out the set 6-3 once again.