Beijing, China, October 6 (ANI): Serbian tennis icon Novak Djokovic claimed a record-extending seventh China Open title and his career 102nd tour-level title after Alex de Minaur retired during the second set in Beijing on Tuesday.
Djokovic, the former world No. 1, won the first set 7-6(3), and both players took medical timeouts, with de Minaur leaving the court due to a groin issue. Upon returning, he retired after winning the first game of the second set.
With his 102nd title, Djokovic is now just one title away from equaling former rival Roger Federer’s 103 tour-level titles for second-most in the Open Era. Both trail Jimmy Connors’ record of 109 titles. The 39-year-old has a flawless 34-0 record in Beijing, according to the ATP Win-Loss Index.
Djokovic’s return to Beijing this year marked his first appearance there since 2015, when he defeated Rafael Nadal to claim his sixth title.
This week, Djokovic defeated Alexander Zverev in a thrilling quarterfinal and was serving during his semifinal against Daniil Medvedev when the latter was defaulted after the ball struck a fan in the audience.
“It has been 11 years since I last played here,” Djokovic said during the trophy ceremony, as quoted by the ATP’s official website. “I always have high expectations of myself and always want to visualize myself with the trophy, particularly here in Beijing, a place where I have never lost. But I was also aware that reality is a little bit different these days.”
“This year has been quite challenging for me: Lots of physical and health issues. I was just trying to find a good feeling on the court. I know that if I’m feeling well and striking the ball well, I can compete at the highest level. This week has been evidence of that,” he added.
Djokovic, who has not won a Grand Slam since the 2023 U.S. Open, is the first player in the Open Era to win a tour-level title for 21 consecutive seasons. He has also boosted his chances of qualifying for the ATP Finals later this year, rising to ninth in the ATP Race to Turin.
“It is a bit of a strange feeling, to be honest,” Djokovic told ATP. “I want to celebrate, because I have played one of the best weeks in the last couple of years. At the same time, he [De Minaur] retired at the beginning of the second, so it does not feel right to jump around and be joyful. But deep inside, I am very proud of this achievement,” he said. (ANI)
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