Novak Djokovic won his seventh China Open title without facing a single match point, after his semi-final opponent Daniil Medvedev was disqualified for hitting a spectator with the ball and then beating Alex De Minaur in the final when the latter withdrew injured. The 39-year-old Serbian secured the 102nd title of his career, moving within one of Roger Federer’s 103 for second-most in the Open Era, behind only Jimmy Connors’ 109.
How the Semi-Final Went Wrong
Djokovic’s path to the final began with a walkover. Medvedev was disqualified after hitting a spectator with the ball, which meant Djokovic was awarded the win without ever facing a match point. That set up a clean start to the final.
De Minaur’s Injury Troubles
The final was a different story. De Minaur left the court for a medical timeout after the first set, returning with a heavy bandage on his left thigh. He continued playing, but could not finish after winning the first game of the second set.
Djokovic narrowly won the first set, with the match poised at 7-6 (7-3) 0-1 when De Minaur retired.
Djokovic’s Trophy Speech
“It’s been 11 years since I last played here,” Djokovic said during the trophy ceremony. “I always have high expectations of myself and always want to visualise 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 I’m feeling well and striking the ball well, I can compete at the highest level. This week has been evidence of that.”
The Perfect Record Stays Intact
The victory extends Djokovic’s perfect record at the ATP 500 event to 34-0. It also strengthens his hopes of returning to the Nitto ATP Finals this year.
De Minaur’s Apology
De Minaur addressed the crowd after the match ended.
“I want to say sorry to all the amazing fans who came to watch this match,” he said. “I didn’t want to finish like this, so I’m really sorry. To my team – those who are here and also back home – thank you. It’s been a great week and I’m sure there’s plenty more to come.”
Konta on the Anti-Climax
Former British No 1 Johanna Konta offered her take on the anticlimactic finish.
“It’s just the anticlimactic nature of it,” she told Sky Sports Tennis. “He was the best player this week because you can only ask a player to deal with the challenges that are presented to them and Djokovic dealt with the challenges that were ahead of him and that’s all there is to it.”
“We do not want to see matches end in retirement and Djokovic himself probably wouldn’t want that either. However, I’m sure he was pleased that he wasn’t necessarily stretched to his physical limits but he will be pleased with the good things that he did do this week.”
“I would have been less surprised had Novak Djokovic retired.”
The Week’s Schedule
| Day | Event |
|---|---|
| Tuesday 6 October | Djokovic wins China Open title |
What This Means for Djokovic
The title is a result from a player who has struggled with physical issues this year. Djokovic has now won seven China Open titles in his career, and his perfect record in Beijing remains unbroken.
His move within one of Federer’s 103 titles puts him in striking distance of the second-highest total in the Open Era. Only Jimmy Connors’ 109 stands ahead of him.
The final ended early due to injury rather than a decisive victory. Djokovic did not face a single match point across both the semi-final and the final, which speaks to the circumstances that shaped this tournament.
For a player who has spent this year dealing with physical and health issues, this week has been evidence of what he can still do on the court. The perfect record in Beijing remains intact, and his chances of returning to the Nitto ATP Finals have improved.
Source material: “Djokovic wins China Open without needing a match point in semi-final and final,” Sky Sports.
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