A Perfect Record Stays Perfect
Novak Djokovic added another remarkable chapter to his career story on Tuesday in Beijing, winning the China Open for a seventh time after Alex de Minaur retired during the final with an apparent left adductor injury. The score stood at 7-6 (7-3), 0-1 when the Australian, 12 years Djokovic's junior, could not continue despite gutting out one game of the second set after an extended medical break. The 39-year-old Serb now holds a flawless 34-0 record at the tournament, a single-venue winning streak that stands as the best any player has ever achieved without a loss. His 102nd career title also moves him to within one of Roger Federer's tally of 103, with only Jimmy Connors ahead of both men on 109.
The path to the title was unconventional. Djokovic beat US Open champion Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals, then advanced to the final when third seed Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from their semi-final after accidentally striking a spectator with a ball. Djokovic himself received multiple time violations throughout the week for slow serving, sparking a wider debate about whether shot clocks should cover the gap between a first and second serve.
Health Battles and Eyes on the Future
This title is Djokovic's first since winning an event in Athens late last year, and it arrives after a 2026 season marked by physical setbacks, including a grueling first-round exit at the US Open where he visibly struggled. His speech at the trophy ceremony was candid: the week in Beijing, he said, proved he can still compete at the highest level when healthy, and he has not given up on reaching the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. De Minaur, gracious in defeat, confirmed he would travel to Shanghai for scans but his participation at the upcoming Shanghai Masters, beginning October 7, remains uncertain. TennisDraw users had Djokovic as a strong contender all week, a pick that ultimately proved spot on.
