Novak Djokovic captured the 102nd singles title of his career at the China Open in Beijing, securing victory after opponent Alex de Minaur retired injured with a left thigh problem trailing 7-6 (7-3), 0-1, sports.yahoo.com reported. The triumph marks the 21st year that the 39-year-old has claimed at least one singles title.
Djokovic Wins 102nd Title in Beijing
The path to the Beijing final tested the veteran’s tactical resilience. Djokovic beat world number two Alexander Zverev before reaching the final stages, where third seed Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from their semi-final match while trailing a set and a break, according to bbc.co.uk reporting. The final itself was cut short when Australian competitor Alex de Minaur was forced to quit following a grueling 68-minute first set that required both players to take medical timeouts.
By claiming the trophy, Djokovic became the oldest man to win an ATP Tour-level title since 43-year-old Ken Rosewall triumphed in Hong Kong in 1877, as noted by sports.yahoo.com. He now sits behind only Jimmy Connors, who holds 109 titles, and Roger Federer, with 103, on the all-time list of men’s singles title leaders.
| Player | Career Singles Titles | Active Status |
|---|---|---|
| Jimmy Connors | 109 | Retired |
| Roger Federer | 103 | Retired |
| Novak Djokovic | 102 | Active |
Managed Schedule Helps Djokovic Overcome Physical Hurdles
This victory represents Djokovic’s first title in just over a year, a direct result of a carefully managed schedule designed to protect his body following a sequence of physical hurdles. The 24-time Grand Slam champion competed in only his second final of the year in Beijing, having previously dropped January’s Australian Open showpiece to Carlos Alcaraz.
The season has presented distinct obstacles for the Serbian star. Beyond his Melbourne run—where he notably defeated world number one Jannik Sinner to reach the final—his campaign featured a third-round exit at the French Open against Joao Fonseca and a semi-final loss to eventual champion Sinner at Wimbledon. Most notably, an emotionally draining first-round defeat at the US Open left him in tears as he battled a serious health condition exacerbated by oppressive weather conditions.
“This year has been quite challenging for me, lots of ups and downs and physical and health issues, so I was just trying to find a good feeling on the court,” Djokovic said, reflecting on his journey to the trophy.
Maintaining Dominance at the China Open
Beijing has historically served as an impenetrable fortress for the veteran champion. With this latest run, Djokovic extended an unblemished 34-match winning streak at the China Open, capturing the tournament’s top honor for the seventh time in his career.
“I always have high expectations and want to visualise myself with the trophy, but particularly here in Beijing, the place where I’ve never lost,” Djokovic stated. “This trophy means much more than one trophy, one tournament.”
With his ranking projected to push him back inside the world’s elite top 10, the victory validates a selective approach to tournament entry.
