Alexander Zverev saw off Lorenzo Sonego 6-4, 6-3 with a dominant second set at the China Open on Friday, while Daniil Medvedev defeated Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4.
Zverev defeats Sonego; Medvedev avenges Roland Garros defeat against Norrie
World number three Zverev, the second seed in Beijing, next faces France’s Corentin Moutet.
The German and Sonego went toe-to-toe for 50 minutes before Zverev converted a break to edge the 30-year-old Italian in the first set after a brief back-and-forth at the net.
A confident Zverev won four straight games in the second for a commanding 5-1 lead, and although 44th-ranked Sonego held on a little longer, the 28-year-old closed out the match on his first match point.
ALSO READ: China Open 2025: Gauff launches title defence in style
Also in action at the Beijing ATP 500 event, fan favourite Daniil Medvedev beat Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4.
Medvedev hit nine aces for a spot in the last 16, avenging his his first-round loss to the Briton at Roland Garros in June.
“There were some moments where I could be better but I’m happy with the general level of the match,” the 18th-ranked Russian told reporters.
He said that while he was still far from his best tennis, he was improving.
“I had dedication, I always have, but maybe I didn’t put it into the right way,” he said. “That’s what I’m trying to do again, step by step, now.”
The 29-year-old former world number one is chasing his first title since 2023 but faces stiff competition in Beijing from Zverev and Italy’s Jannik Sinner.
Medvedev next plays Spaniard Alejandro Davidovich Fokina and world number two Sinner will face qualifier Terence Atmane of France.
Published on Sep 26, 2025