Novak Djokovic has won his seventh China Open title after Alex de Minaur retired with an injury in the final. The victory came after Djokovic’s semi-final match also concluded prematurely when Daniil Medvedev was defaulted, according to Sky Sports. The win marks the 102nd tour-level title of Djokovic's career.
How did the final end?
The championship match ended when Alex de Minaur could not continue due to a left thigh injury. The Australian player received a medical timeout after losing a close first set in a tiebreak, returning to the court with his thigh heavily bandaged, as reported by Sky Sports. After winning the first game of the second set, De Minaur retired from the match, with the score at 7-6(3), 0-1 in Djokovic's favour.
What was Djokovic's path to the final?
Djokovic reached the final after his semi-final opponent, Daniil Medvedev, was defaulted from their match. Djokovic was leading 7-5, 5-3 when Medvedev struck a ball into the crowd that hit a spectator, leading to the disqualification, according to Tennisuptodate.com. His route to the title also included a three-set quarter-final victory over top seed Alexander Zverev.
What is the significance of this victory?
This title is Djokovic's 102nd on the tour, moving him to within one of Roger Federer’s 103 championships in the Open Era, a statistic noted by both Sky Sports and Tennisuptodate.com. The Serbian also extended his undefeated record in Beijing to 34-0. The win improves his standing in the race to qualify for the year-end Nitto ATP Finals.
This was Djokovic's first appearance at the China Open in 11 years, according to Sky Sports. De Minaur had also advanced to the final following a retirement, when Hubert Hurkacz withdrew from their semi-final match with an adductor injury, as reported by Tennisuptodate.com.
Sources
- Sky Sports: Novak Djokovic: Former world No 1 wins China Open title without needing a match point in semi-final and final. None listed, 2026-10-06.
- Tennisuptodate.com: Preview China Open Final | Novak Djokovic eyes 102nd title as Alex de Minaur stands between him and history. None listed, 2026-10-06.
Reported from public sources.