Djokovic China Open 2026: 102nd Title After De Minaur Retirement in Beijing Final

Novak Djokovic lifted the China Open trophy in Beijing on 6 October 2026 after the final against Alex de Minaur ended by retirement. The 39-year-old was leading 7-6(7-3) 0-1 when de Minaur stopped with a left thigh problem, giving Djokovic his seventh Beijing title and the 102nd singles title of his career.

Final outcome and retirement context

The match did not finish under normal play conditions. Both players took a medical timeout after a 68-minute first set, and de Minaur was unable to continue once play resumed. BBC Sport reported the result from the 6 October 2026 final and the thigh issue that forced the stoppage China Open final report.

A retirement changes how the week is read. The scoreline reflects the point at which play stopped, and the title is credited to Djokovic while the physical reason for the stoppage remains the key context for the final.

What the 102nd title means in career terms

The Beijing win is Djokovic’s first title in just over a year after he limited his schedule to manage his body. It extends a long unbeaten run in Beijing and marks the 21st consecutive season in which he has won at least one singles title.

On the all-time men’s singles titles list, the Serb now sits third behind Jimmy Connors on 109 and Roger Federer on 103. The victory is also expected to move him back inside the world’s top 10.

Beijing dominance

Djokovic has now won the China Open seven times and remains unbeaten in the tournament across a 34-match winning streak in the city. He has spoken about the special status of Beijing in his career and the confidence he associates with the venue.

Path to the Beijing final

Djokovic reached the final by beating world number two Alexander Zverev earlier in the week. In the semi-final he led third seed Daniil Medvedev a set and a break before the Russian was defaulted.

The week comes after a mixed 2026 season for the 24-time Grand Slam champion, which included a semi-final at Wimbledon and a third-round exit at Roland-Garros, with the player previously citing health challenges and a demanding physical load.