Djokovic takes Beijing crown for 102nd title after De Minaur retires
Novak Djokovic won the China Open in Beijing on 6 October 2026, beating Alex de Minaur 7-6 (7-3) 0-1 after the Australian retired injured to claim the 102nd singles title of his career. BBC
It was a flat ending to a sharp first set. De Minaur stopped after one game of the second set with what was reported as an apparent left thigh problem. BBC He had already taken treatment during the opener and could not move freely.
The tiebreak decided it. A tiebreak is the first-to-seven shootout that settles a set at 6-6. Djokovic took it 7-3 with cleaner serving and fewer errors. That was enough. One game later, the final was over.
For Djokovic, the numbers keep stacking up. This was his seventh China Open trophy and it stretched his winning run at the tournament to 34 matches. He has now won at least one singles title in 21 consecutive years. Only Jimmy Connors on 109 titles and Roger Federer on 103 have won more.
He is 38 and still finding ways to win. Djokovic is a 24-time Grand Slam singles champion and he returned to Beijing this year after an 11-year absence. Reuters
His route to the final was messy. Djokovic beat world No. 2 Alexander Zverev on his way through the draw in Beijing. Then he led Daniil Medvedev by a set and a break in the semi-final when Medvedev was defaulted, which means removed from the match by officials.
De Minaur also reached the final through a retirement. He led Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 3-2 in their semi-final when the Pole stopped. Yahoo Sports
That context mattered. Two players arrived with little rhythm and one left limping. Djokovic served solidly in the big moments and attacked De Minaur's second serve early in the rally. De Minaur chased everything, as always. His body said no.
What makes this stand out is the patience behind it. Djokovic did not need to be brilliant for three hours. He needed to hold firm for one hour, wait for the tiebreak, and trust his patterns. Serve wide, forehand into space, no rush.
For fans, this means the chase goes on. Title 102 leaves him one behind Federer and seven behind Connors. The gap looks small on paper. It never feels small on court.
