Alexander Zverev vs Lorenzo Sonego Tips, Prediction & Live Stream - Sonego to cover against slumping Zverev

It's surprising that Zverev has remained inside the world's top three throughout 2025, because the German has been well below his best for the entire year - and he's looking at his most vulnerable heading into the Asian swing. After a disappointing third round exit at the US Open, Zverev lost both of his singles matches at the Laver Cup, contributing to Team Europe's defeat. Zverev also complained of back problems and generally looked all over the place - so you've got to wonder how he's feeling just a few days later in another continent towards the end of another energy-sapping season.

Another opponent might be able to take advantage, but Sonego has a poor 2-16 record against top five players in his career, last defeating a player of this calibre in 2021. The Italian has also lost all five previous meetings with Zverev - however, he has pushed him close in the last two, covering a +3.5 games line in the process. Given the uncertainty around Zverev, that's looking like the best play for this encounter.

As mentioned, Zverev leads 5-0. However, the most-recent meeting was a tight one, with Zverev recovering from dropping the opening set to prevail 3-6 6-4 7-6 in the second round of Halle earlier this season.

Zverev has put together a 45-17 record on the season and remains the third best player in the world by ranking, but overall, he'd consider this a hugely disappointing year.

It started well enough as Zverev made the Australian Open final, but he failed to capitalise on a golden chance to rise to World No. 1 with Jannik Sinner's three-month suspension.

From there, Zverev just hasn't been anywhere near his best. He's only won one title (at home in a weak Munich draw) and his last two slam performances have been dire, losing in the opening round of Wimbledon to Arthur Rinderknech and the third round of the US Open to Felix Auger-Aliassime.

Zverev brings a three-match losing streak into Beijing after also going down in straight sets to Alex de Minaur and Taylor Fritz in the Laver Cup last weekend. The German has a 12-5 record in Beijing, making at least the quarter-finals in four of his five previous appearances.

It's been a strange old season for Sonego, who comes into this tournament with a negative 18-23 record and down at No. 44 in the world.

Seven of those 18 wins have come at the slams, with Sonego making his first major quarter-final at the Australian Open and also reaching the fourth round at Wimbledon.

However, Sonego has only managed to win consecutive matches once outside of the slams in 2025, which is why he's almost out of the top 50 despite making a major quarter-final for the year.

Sonego launched his Asian swing in Chengdu last week, beating Juan Manuel Cerundolo before going down to Marcos Giron.