Alexander Zverev opened his China Open (Beijing) campaign with a composed straight-sets win over Lorenzo Sonego, while Coco Gauff began her title defence in emphatic fashion — two parallel storylines setting the tone for an intriguing week at the hard court event in the Chinese capital.
Zverev tames Sonego to start with authority:
On Friday, top seeds were in action, and Zverev, seeded No. 2 in the Beijing draw, faced Italy’s Lorenzo Sonego. The German delivered a solid performance, prevailing 6-4, 6-3, closing out the match with an ace on his first match point.
The match began tightly, with both players holding serve in the early exchanges. For much of the first set, it looked as though Sonego might make life difficult for Zverev, especially given past head-to-head battles and the reputational edge Sonego often enjoys as a tricky opponent at net exchanges.
It was the tenth game that proved decisive. Zverev broke serve to take the set 6-4. In the second set, he grabbed momentum and reeled off four consecutive games to surge to a 5-1 lead. Although Sonego managed to claw back a game or two, Zverev remained in control, ultimately finishing off the contest with the ace.
Postmatch, Zverev sounded satisfied. “Good start to a tournament,” he told Chinese media partner Migu Sports. He acknowledged that Sonego is “somebody who is tricky” and that they’ve had long matches in the past, but expressed relief at getting through in straight sets.
Statistically, Zverev’s tennis was solid. Reports from observers and match analysts highlight how he served strongly — dropping minimal points on serve — and took advantage of break opportunities. In fact, in one breakdown of the match, commentators pointed out that Zverev landed 23 winners and made 13 unforced errors, controlling many of the exchanges across baseline, midrange, and net play.
With the win, Zverev advances to the Round of 16, where he will face France’s Corentin Moutet.
His progress is a timely reminder: though perhaps not as dominant as before, Zverev remains a serious threat in harder-court events, especially when his serve and baseline game are clicking. In a field featuring dangerous rivals such as Jannik Sinner and Daniil Medvedev, he’ll be keen to push deep into the draw.
Gauff begins title defence with a statement:
On the women’s side, the focus was on Coco Gauff, the defending champion in Beijing. Gauff didn’t disappoint: she opened her defence with a confident 6-4, 6-0 win over Kamilla Rakhimova.
That scoreline belies a more competitive first set, in which Gauff and Rakhimova traded games on serve until Gauff took control. In fact, Gauff saved all 10 break points she faced (8 in the first set), underlining her composure under pressure, then asserted dominance in the later stages to crush the second set.
Afterward, Gauff noted that playing in a venue where she’s had success before gives her extra confidence. She said familiarity with the conditions helps when tough moments arrive.
Beyond the result, the off-court atmosphere is also noteworthy. Gauff has been beloved by local fans, who have given her affectionate nicknames such as “Fruit Salad Queen” (a nod to her frequent snacking on fruit salad) and “Ambassador of Beijing.” She’s expressed willingness to add an animal-based nickname to reflect her on court intensity.
Gauff’s next opponent will be Leylah Fernandez, a player she has beaten before, including earlier this season.
Context & outlook:
The Beijing (China Open) tournament is a WTA 1000 / ATP 500 level event, making for high stakes: good runs here can significantly affect ranking points, momentum late in the season, and confidence heading into other big events.
On the men’s side, Zverev’s win continues a pattern: he has now notched multiple opening-round victories in Beijing, showing consistency in tournament openers. Yet, deeper in the draw, the challenges increase. As noted, Medvedev, Sinner and others remain dangerous. In fact, Medvedev himself advanced in his match, defeating Cameron Norrie 6-3, 6-4, and is seeking his first title since 2023.
Meanwhile, Gauff’s dominant start further reinforces her as a serious contender to defend her crown. The manner in which she managed break points and then overwhelmed her opponent in set two suggests both mental toughness and tactical sharpness. If she can maintain that level, she could be difficult to knock off in Beijing.
Looking ahead, Zverev will aim to capitalize on today’s momentum. If his serve, movement, and shot selection remain consistent, he could challenge for deep rounds. For Gauff, the question is how far she can push: defending a title always adds pressure, but she seems to be handling it with composure.
In sum, the opening round in Beijing delivered two solid signals: Zverev is in form and capable of carrying weight in the draw, while Gauff is launching her title defence with both grit and authority. As the tournament progresses, both will be names to watch.
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