- Djokovic Wins Record Seventh China Open Title After De Minaur Retires Injured
Novak Djokovic won a record-extending seventh China Open title after Alex de Minaur retired with a groin injury early in the second set of Tuesday’s final in Beijing.
The 39-year-old Serbian was leading 7-6 (7-3), 0-1 when De Minaur informed the umpire that he could not continue, bringing an abrupt end to a closely contested match.
The victory extended Djokovic’s unbeaten record at the China Open to 34 matches and delivered the 102nd ATP singles title of his career.
He is now one title behind Roger Federer’s total of 103, while Jimmy Connors remains the Open-era leader with 109.
Djokovic also became a singles champion for the 21st consecutive season, underlining his durability during a year in which injuries and health problems have disrupted his form.
“This year has been quite challenging for me, lots of ups and downs,” Djokovic said after the final.
He added that striking the ball well continued to give him confidence that he could compete at the highest level.
De Minaur troubled Djokovic throughout a demanding opening set, using aggressive groundstrokes and speed from the baseline to prevent the Serbian from controlling the contest.
The Australian saved two break points and produced 11 winners compared with Djokovic’s three, but an increase in unforced errors during the tiebreak allowed the sixth seed to take the set after 67 minutes.
Both players required medical attention at the end of the opener.
De Minaur left the court for treatment before returning with his left thigh heavily bandaged. Although he won the first game of the second set, the 27-year-old was unable to continue.
“I didn’t want to finish like this,” De Minaur told supporters during the trophy presentation.
The fifth seed had been seeking his first China Open title and his second tournament victory of the season after winning in Rotterdam in February.
Djokovic secured the trophy without playing a match point in either his semi-final or the final.
His semi-final against Daniil Medvedev ended when the Russian was disqualified for hitting a spectator with a ball. Djokovic had been leading 7-5, 5-3 at the time.
De Minaur’s semi-final also ended prematurely after Hubert Hurkacz retired injured in the second set.
The unusual sequence left Djokovic as champion following two incomplete matches, but his wider performance in Beijing remained significant.
He defeated three consecutive top-10 opponents during the tournament, including US Open champion Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals.
His seventh Beijing crown also extended a perfect record at an event he had not played since 2015.
“I always have high expectations of myself,” Djokovic said, describing Beijing as a place where he visualised himself lifting the trophy because he had never lost there.
The manner of the final may have been unsatisfactory for both players, but the result adds another milestone to Djokovic’s career.
At 39, his ability to remain competitive is increasingly tested by physical limitations. Yet a 102nd title, a 34-0 Beijing record and a trophy in a 21st consecutive season suggest that his capacity to win has survived even as the route becomes more difficult.
