By Richard Pagliaro | Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Photo credit: Screen Shot
Before scaling the sport’s summit, Novak Djokovic relished the rush of going downhill fast.
The young Djokovic grew up skiing down mountains.
Today, the 39-year-old Serbian completed another peak performance remaining perfect in Beijing.
Djokovic led 7-6(3), 0-1 when Alex de Minaur retired due to an apparent adductor injury after one hour, 23 minutes of play in the China Open final.
Eleven years after his last China Open appearance, Olympic gold-medal champion Djokovic collected his seventh Beijing title. Djokovic raised his Beijing record to a perfect 34-0 capturing his 102nd career championships—and extending his record of winning at least one title to 21 consecutive years.
Afterward, Djokovic detailed the key to his remarkable longevity.
Fueled by a crackling competitive spirit, Djokovic cites his desire to play at the highest level—and dedication to the tennis lifestyle—as the secrets to staying power in a “cruel” sport.
“That is really the grit and dedication and kind of never-die spirit that really is always with me,” Djokovic told the media in Beijing when asked about his longevity. “When I’m on the court, regardless who is across the net, I’m not really giving anything. I’m really pushing myself to the very limit, particularly when you play finals of big tournaments in front of the full stadium.”
Exhorted by rousing support from Chinese fans, Djokovic 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.
Still, the only man to win all nine Masters 1000 championships says his litany of injuries and the three-match losing streak he suffered, including successive opening-round exits in Cincinnati and at the US Open, are reminders that tennis is a “cruel” sport.
On the flip side, confronting the deep demands players face physically and emotionally and digging down deep for solutions are what makes tennis so rewarding, Djokovic said.
“With all my respect to all the other sports, I think there’s some incredible sports out there, I’m a big sportsfan, but I think there’s no sport like tennis,” Djokovic said. “If you’re not feeling good one day, you’re out. You can’t sit down on the bench and someone comes in and replaces you, substitutes you.
“It’s also quite a cruel sport because it’s a knockout system. We have one tournament a year which is World Tour Finals in Turin where you have group format. Everything else is knockout. If you lose first round because one day you didn’t sleep well, you have food poisoning, whatever it is, you lose, you’re out. But that’s what makes also our sport so demanding and so special.”
A spiritual Djokovic cites his connection to a higher power with his staying power.
“I really believe that God has given me this opportunity and talent to be who I am and to be where I am,” Djokovic said. “I’m grateful. I’m trying to fulfill my mission and potential as much as possible.”
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