Djokovic makes history with seventh China Open title

BEIJING  –  Novak Djokovic captured his seventh China Open title on Tuesday after Alex de Minaur retired with a groin injury early in the second set, handing the Serbian superstar his 102nd tour-level trophy and extending his remarkable unbeaten record in Beijing to 34 matches.

The 39-year-old Djokovic prevailed in a fiercely contested opening set, winning the tiebreak 7-3 after both players produced a high-quality baseline battle that lasted more than an hour. De Minaur, who repeatedly tested Djokovic with his speed and aggressive court coverage, struggled increasingly with his movement before requiring medical attention.

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Both players took medical timeouts after the first set. De Minaur returned to the court with his left thigh heavily strapped and managed to win the opening game of the second set, but the Australian was unable to continue and retired with Djokovic leading 7-6(3), 0-1. “I don’t feel great. I want to say sorry to all the amazing fans who came to watch,” De Minaur told the crowd during the trophy ceremony. “I didn’t want to finish like this.”

Djokovic expressed sympathy for his opponent while acknowledging the significance of another historic triumph. “I’m really sorry for the way you had to finish today and I really hope that you can recover quickly,” Djokovic said.

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The victory gave Djokovic his first China Open title since 2015 and extended his perfect record at the Beijing ATP event to 34-0. It also marked his seventh crown at the tournament, further underlining his extraordinary dominance in the Chinese capital.

The Serbian also became the first man in the Open Era to win a tour-level title in 21 consecutive seasons. His 102nd career title moved him within one of Roger Federer’s 103 for second place on the all-time Open Era list, with Jimmy Connors leading with 109. “It’s been a challenging year for me, with lots of physical and health issues,” Djokovic said. “I was just trying to find a good feeling on the court. When I’m striking the ball well, I know I can still compete at the highest level.”

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The tournament ended with both finalists reaching the title match under unusual circumstances. De Minaur advanced after Hubert Hurkacz retired injured in their semifinal, while Djokovic progressed when Daniil Medvedev was disqualified after striking a spectator with a ball. Despite the unusual finish, Djokovic said he was proud of his performance and delighted to rediscover his best form in Beijing.

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