Novak Djokovic defeated Alex de Minaur, 7-6, 0-1 (RET) in the China Open closing.
The Serbian won his 102nd ATP title when De Minaur retired from the China Open closing due to damage. Djokovic is now a seven-time champion in Beijing and stays undefeated at the occasion.
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Shortly after changing match level, Djokovic issued an replace on the future of his tennis profession, telling his followers he has thought-about whether he needs to proceed.
Novak Djokovic admits he has questioned whether he needs to keep taking part in ‘many occasions’
“Yesterday I did not get to finish the match; it was a bit strange. I don’t think it has happened ever in my career, where I have had that in a semi and then a final. It is a strange feeling. I want to celebrate because it is one of the best weeks I have had in a couple of years. But at the same time, he retired from the match at the beginning of the second, so it doesn’t feel right or respectful to jump around and be joyful. But deep inside I am very proud of this achievement,” said Djokovic.
“It has been a challenging year. Many times I have questioned whether I want to keep on playing and feeling this way on the court. But this week has proven me wrong once again and giving me a great boost for the rest of the season.”
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Djokovic loved an glorious begin to his 2026 marketing campaign, reaching the Australian Open closing, where he came close to successful a record-extending twenty fifth main title.
He could not preserve that degree, though, and suffered several early exits. Djokovic failed to impress at the Italian Open, French Open, Cincinnati Open, and the US Open, before successful the title in Beijing.
Novak Djokovic’s early exits in 2026
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Indian Wells – Lost in 4R to Jack Draper, 6-4, 4-6, 6-7
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Italian Open – Lost in 2R to Dino Prizmic, 6-2, 2-6, 4-6
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French Open – Lost in 3R to Joao Fonseca, 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 5-7
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Cincinnati Open – Lost in 2R to Thiago Agustin Tirante, 6-2, 4-6, 4-6
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US Open – Lost in 1R to Mariano Navone, 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 2-6, 1-6
Djokovic has now won 34 matches in the Chinese capital, successful seven titles (2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2026). During his on-court interview, Djokovic was requested about his exceptional file in Beijing.
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“There is something about Beijing; I don’t know what it is. Probably a variety of things. The support and love from the crowd and the connection I have with them. Not just this year, but always when I come to China, I have been feeling the love. I love the conditions. I love playing in both Beijing and Shanghai. I am very thrilled and proud of the performances this week,” he said.
“The way I found a way to win in all of the matches, which were basically since round one, second set was tough in round one, and then every single set after that was unknown whether it would go my way or my opponent’s way. It was stress and pressure, but I fought, and I’m super happy for myself and my team.”
Djokovic did not have an simple route to the title, but raised his degree when it mattered most, securing wins over Nuno Borges, Yunchaokete Bu, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and De Minaur. He’ll have another alternative to win huge in China at the upcoming Shanghai Masters…
Novak Djokovic’s Shanghai Masters draw
Djokovic, the tenth seed, will play Hubert Hurkacz or James Duckworth in the second spherical of the Shanghai Masters. He will be the favorite in either match-up, and would be the favorite again, should he attain spherical three.
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There, he could play Italy’s Lorenzo Musetti. The pair met in the Hellenic Championships closing a yr in the past, a match Djokovic won in three units to claim his a hundred and first ATP title.
Looking forward, the Serb may face Spain’s Alejandro Davidovich Fokina or America’s Frances Tiafoe in the fourth spherical, and Jakub Mensik or Ben Shelton in the quarters. Then, he could play Zverev in the semi-finals and Carlos Alcaraz in the closing.
If Djokovic is to win back-to-back titles, he will need to beat some of the very best gamers in males’s tennis. The 2026 Shanghai Masters begins on Wednesday, October 7.
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