A Record Within Touching Distance
Novak Djokovic is on the cusp of matching one of the most remarkable records in tennis history after reaching the China Open final in Beijing. His 33rd consecutive victory at the tournament came under unusual circumstances, with Daniil Medvedev disqualified after striking a ball toward a spectator while Djokovic led 7-5, 5-3 in their semifinal. That win now places Djokovic level with Rafael Nadal's all-time Roland Garros winning streak, which the Serbian surpassed just a round earlier by defeating Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals. The only record still ahead of him belongs to Monica Seles, who posted an extraordinary 34-0 run at the Australian Open between 1991 and 1996. One more victory would see Djokovic share that milestone, which has stood untouched for three decades.
The 39-year-old is also making history in other ways. By reaching the final, he became the oldest man ever to appear in an ATP 500 final. His run includes wins over Nuno Borges, Yunchaokete Bu, Zverev, and Medvedev, and he now stands just one match away from a seventh China Open title on his first return to Beijing in 11 years.
Final Opponent and the Road to Los Angeles
Standing between Djokovic and glory is Alex de Minaur, who reached the final after Hubert Hurkacz retired through injury. De Minaur praised Djokovic's ability to redirect the ball effortlessly and noted his near-total absence of weaknesses. Djokovic, for his part, acknowledged ongoing health concerns but remained optimistic about competing at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics, saying his game feels very close to its best when he is physically right. TennisDraw users heavily backed Djokovic to reach this final, and the bracket community will be watching Tuesday's title match very closely.
