By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
Novak Djokovic extended his spotless streak with profound staying power.
Eleven years after his last Beijing appearance, Djokovic captured his record-extending seventh China Open championship as Alex de Minaur retired due to injury one game into the second set.
Djokovic led 7-6(3), 0-1 when de Minaur retired due to an apparent adductor injury after one hour, 23 minutes of play.
The 39-year-old Serbian superstar raised his Beijing record to a perfect 34-0 collecting his 102nd career championships—extending his record of winning at least one title to 21 consecutive years.
The city that has hosted the Olympic Games continues to be a revival ground for the Olympic gold-medal champion, who rediscovered his dynamic game in a triumphant return.
“Beijing was always my happy place. It continues to be. I always have high expectations for myself,” Djokovic said. “The goals and desires are always high, particularly in a place where I never lost before. “I haven’t been here 11 years. I had a year filled with struggle and challenges, not many great results after the finals of Australian Open.
“Yeah, I didn’t know how I’m going to feel because the American swing was terrible in terms of feeling on the court, health-wise and physically. I must say in some of the matches here I did struggle, as well. I managed to kind of push through and really dig deep, turned some matches around.”
Djokovic continues to rack up remarkable historical achievements after becoming the first man in the Open Era to win his first 34 matches at a single event.
The Olympic gold-medal champion is the first man 39 years of age to win a Tour-level title since Hall of Famer Ken Rosewall, 43, won the 1977 Hong Kong crown.
Returning to his perfect place, Djokovic elevated his level of play defeating No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals, No. 6 Daniil Medvedev in yesterday’s semifinal abruptly ended by the Russian’s disqualification for hitting a fan in the face with a ball and the ninth-seeded de Minaur. It’s the first time Djokovic has knocked off three Top 10 opponents in a tournament since he won the 2023 ATP Finals.
“Yesterday, I didn’t get to finish the match,” Djokovic said. “ I don’t think it ever happened in my career, semis and finals, without finishing the match. A bit of a strange feeling, to be honest.
“I want to celebrate, but at the same time he retired and it doesn’t feel right to jump around and be joyful.”
The world No. 9 appeared to strain his groin in the opening set, but battled on through the tie break.
“Felt something in the adductor. I don’t know what it is yet,” de Minaur told the media in Beijing. “I’ve got to get some more scans.
“My plan is to go to Shanghai and get scans.”
After Djokovic won the first set tie break, de Minaur left the court for treatment. Though the Aussie returned to play one more game, he appeared to be in discomfort and walked to the net to shake Djokovic’s hand.
‘I don’t feel great. Congrats Novak to you and your team,” de Minaur said during the trophy presentation. “I want to say sorry to all the amazing fans who came to watch this match. I didn’t want to finish like this so I’m really, really sorry.”
Movement is an essential element of the speedy Aussie’s game. De Minaur drilled an ace and a short forehand crosscourt to level after four games.
Dabbing a drop shot, de Minaur earned break point in the fifth game. The Aussie was nearly at the service line when he unleashed a diagonal forehand into the corner only to see a sliding Djokovic buzz a backhand pass down the line that landed on the line to save it.
Navigating a taxing eight-minute hold, Djokovic slid a forehand winner down the line for 3-2. De Minaur denied a break point in the following game as he evened the final after six games.
In his most comfortable service hold of the set, Djokovic stamped a love hold for 4-3.
The ninth-ranked Aussie held firm to force the first-set tiebreaker after exactly one hour of play.
An impeccable tie break player throughout his career, Djokovic immediately imposed pressure earning the mini break for 2-0 when de Minaur netted a forehand down the line.
The former No. 1 extended his lead to 4-1 before de Minaur hit a backhand winner down line and followed with a forehand strike down the opposite sideline.
On his first set point, Djokovic drew a forehand error exploiting a series of miscues for a one-set lead after 67 minutes.
After the opening set, de Minaur left the court for treatment of an apparent hip issue. De Minaur returned to play one more game before calling it quits.
Djokovic lifted his 102nd career championship and trails only Jimmy Connors (109 titles) and rival Roger Federer (103) for most championships in the Open Era.
All this from a man who looked every bit his age staggering through a three-match losing streak, including painful opening-round losses in Cincinnati and the US Open, before a revitalizing run before wildly supportive Chinese fans, who have backed Djokovic from the beginning.
This rousing return in Beijing reinforces Djokovic’s belief he can beat the best at his best.
‘Many times I questioned if I want to keep feeling this way on court, but this week has proven me wrong and given my confidence boost the rest of the season,” Djokovic said. “Something about Beijing, I don’t know what it is, probably the variety of things the support and love from the crowd.
“I love the conditions. I love playing in both Beijing and Shanghai. Very thrilled and very proud of the performance this week. The way I found a way to win in all matches [with] high level of stress and pressure. I fought. I gave it all. I’m very happy.”
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