Novak Djokovic became the champion of the prestigious ATP 500 tournament in Beijing, claiming his seventh title in the capital of China. The decisive match against Australia's Alex de Minaur ended prematurely due to the opponent's injury, yet the Serbian tennis star's journey to this milestone proved truly unique and rich in unexpected plot twists.
Tense Final and De Minaur's Injury
The first set of the title match was fiercely contested and tightly balanced. Neither player managed a break, forcing a tiebreak at 6:6. At this critical stage, the experience and composure of the Serbian champion played a decisive role: Djokovic confidently secured the tiebreak 7:3. Following the set's conclusion, both players received medical attention. De Minaur left the court and returned with heavy taping on his left thigh. Early in the second set, Novak claimed the opening game, after which the Australian decided to retire from the match due to the injury.
An Unusual Path to the Decider
It is worth noting that Djokovic's entire tournament run in Beijing was marked by premature finishes from his opponents. In the semifinal clash against Russia's Daniil Medvedev, the Serb was comfortably leading (7:5, 5:3) and serving for the match. During a rally, Medvedev emotionally hit a ball towards the stands and struck a spectator, leading to his disqualification by the tournament committee. The other semifinal also failed to reach its natural conclusion: Alex de Minaur was leading Hubert Hurkacz (6:4, 3:2) before the Polish player was forced to withdraw due to injury.
Historical Records and Achievements
The triumph in Beijing earned Novak Djokovic his milestone 102nd professional title and his first trophy of the ongoing 2026 season. The star Serb last lifted a trophy in late 2025 when he became the champion of the ATP 250 tournament in Athens. Furthermore, this victory established a historic tennis milestone: Djokovic became the first player in the Open Era to win at least one singles title for 21 consecutive seasons.
