Djokovic Claims Seventh China Open Title

Djokovic won a demanding opening set 7-6 (7/3) before de Minaur took the first game of the second. The Australian then withdrew after medical treatment, handing Djokovic his seventh China Open crown and his first title in the Chinese capital since 2015.

The victory took Djokovic’s Beijing record to a perfect 34 wins from 34 matches, underlining his dominance at a tournament where he has never lost. The 39-year-old said lifting the trophy remained something he had pictured throughout the competition, despite acknowledging the physical challenges he has faced this season.

“I always want to visualise myself with the trophy, particularly here in Beijing,” Djokovic said during the presentation ceremony.

He admitted, however, that expectations had needed to be balanced with the difficulties of a season affected by “physical and health issues”.

“I was just trying to find the good feeling on the court,” he added.

The opening set lasted more than an hour and became a physical contest, with both players needing medical attention before the second set began. De Minaur returned to the court with a white wrap around his left thigh and held serve in the opening game, but he couldn’t continue. The exact nature of the injury was unclear at first.

The world number nine expressed disappointment that the final had ended prematurely.

“I don’t feel great,” de Minaur told the crowd. “I want to say sorry to the amazing fans that came to watch… I didn’t want to finish like this.”

The final brought an unusual end to a tournament in which both players had advanced from disrupted semi-finals. De Minaur reached the championship match after Hubert Hurkacz retired injured, while Djokovic progressed after Daniil Medvedev was disqualified for hitting a spectator with a ball.

Despite the abbreviated finish, Djokovic leaves Beijing with another milestone, another trophy, and his flawless China Open record still intact.