Novak Djokovic secured the 102nd singles title of his career when Alex de Minaur was forced to withdraw from the China Open final due to injury on October 6, 2026. The 39-year-old Serbian champion was leading the Australian opponent, who is 12 years his junior, 7-6 (7-3) 0-1 when De Minaur's left thigh problem became too severe to continue.
This victory extends Djokovic's remarkable streak of winning at least one singles title annually. He has now achieved this feat for 21 consecutive years, a testament to his sustained excellence at the sport's highest level. In the history of professional tennis, only Jimmy Connors with 109 titles and Roger Federer with 103 have accumulated more singles crowns than Djokovic's current tally.
The 24-time Grand Slam champion has had a relatively quiet year in terms of major finals, with this Beijing triumph representing only his second final appearance of 2026. He suffered a defeat in January's Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz, who would go on to win multiple titles this season.
How did Djokovic reach the final?
Djokovic's path to the title involved impressive victories over top-ranked opponents. He defeated world number two Alexander Zverev en route to the final, and faced third seed Daniil Medvedev in the semi-final. The Russian was defaulted from that match when Djokovic held a commanding position of one set and a break ahead.
Notably, Djokovic's quarter-final victory over Zverev set an Open Era record for the longest unbeaten run at a single tournament, surpassing Rafael Nadal's 31-0 French Open record. The Serbian star has now won the China Open trophy seven times and maintains a 34-match winning streak at the tournament.
Both finalists required medical attention during the match. After the first set, Djokovic received treatment for his abdomen, while De Minaur returned with his left thigh heavily bandaged, with the ATP reporting that De Minaur had a groin issue. De Minaur expressed his disappointment to the crowd, stating
I didn't want to finish like this, so I'm really sorry.
What makes this achievement particularly significant?
Djokovic became the oldest ATP 500 champion since the category began in 2009, underscoring his ability to compete at the elite level well into his late thirties. This is especially noteworthy given that Djokovic had not played the China Open for 11 years before returning to the tournament this year, making his dominant performance all the more impressive.
The victory has significant implications for the remainder of the season. Djokovic's win lifted him six places to ninth in the live race for the ATP Finals in Turin, positioning him 140 points ahead of De Minaur in tenth place. His qualification prospects have improved further following recent developments on the professional circuit.
What about other title winners this week?
Elsewhere on the professional tennis calendar, Carlos Alcaraz captured the Japan Open trophy, successfully defending his title in Tokyo. The Spanish champion defeated Czech player Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (7-4) 6-4 to claim the crown, demonstrating his return to peak form following a significant injury setback.
Alcaraz's achievement is particularly noteworthy given his recent injury history. He sustained a wrist injury in April and only resumed competitive play at August's US Open, where he reached the quarter-finals before losing in five sets to Ben Shelton. Despite this disruption to his season, the 25-year-old has now won three titles in 2026, including the Australian Open in January—which completed his career Grand Slam—and the Qatar Open in February.
Reflecting on his Japan Open victory, Alcaraz commented:
It's extra special after my injury. It was a tough week that I didn't find my best tennis, my best level, but I did find the good solutions. I think that's what matters in the end.
De Minaur was seeking his first Beijing title and his second trophy of the season, having won Rotterdam in February prior to the final.
What happens next?
The ATP Finals are scheduled to take place in Turin, with Djokovic's Beijing result moving him significantly closer to qualifying for the season-ending event. Jannik Sinner announced he would end his 2026 season to recover from a right knee injury, improving Djokovic's prospects of qualifying for the ATP Finals. This development removes one of the top contenders from the race, potentially opening a clearer path for Djokovic to secure his place in Turin.
Key Facts
- Djokovic has won at least one singles title every year for 21 consecutive years, dating back to 2006
- Only Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) have won more career singles titles than Djokovic's 102
- The Serbian champion is the oldest ATP 500 champion since the category began in 2009
- Djokovic maintains a 34-match winning streak at the China Open, where he has claimed seven titles
- Alcaraz has won three titles in 2026 despite returning from a wrist injury sustained in April
