Novak Djokovic wins in Beijing after De Minaur's withdrawal

Iin the Chinese capital tournament, Djokovic added the 34th victory in so many other meetings, this time after De Minaur's withdrawal, when the Serbian won 7-6 (7-3) and 0-1, after an hour and 24 minutes.

“ This has been a complicated year for me, with many ups and downs, with physical and health problems. I just tried to find good feelings in the field and when I feel good I know I can still compete on the high level. This week was a proof of this”, Djokovic assumed.

The Australian was watched on the left thigh after the end of the first set and still returned to the beginning of the second, but, despite winning the first game, eventually abandoned in clear difficulties.

This was Djokovic's second consecutive meeting that did not end, after the day before he saw the Russian Daniil Medvedev being disqualified for having hit a ball on a spectator, although at that moment the old world number one was closer to the final triumph (7-5 and 5-3).

The return to Beijing, 11 years after the last victory, turned out to be historic for Djokovic, who became the tennis player with more consecutive wins in his first matches in a tournament at the ‘Open era’, leaving behind Rafael Nadal, who won his first 31 meetings in Roland Garros.

The 39-year-old Serbian team added the 102th career trophy and was just one to match the Swiss Roger Federer as the second most famous in history, with seven of the American Jimmy Connors.

For Djokovic, this is the first title in 2026, in its second final of the year, after losing the Australian Open decision, the first Grand Slam of the season.