Novak Djokovic added another historic milestone to his tennis journey by capturing the China Open trophy in Beijing, taking his career singles title tally to 102. The Serbian great triumphed after his final opponent, Australia's Alex de Minaur, was forced to withdraw mid-match due to physical trouble. At 39 years of age, Djokovic demonstrated once again that his competitive sharpness remains intact against players from younger generations.
Injury Halts Alex de Minaur in the Final
The championship decider began as a closely fought contest between the veteran Serb and his Australian challenger, who is 12 years his junior. After battling through a high-pressure opening set, Djokovic took control during the tie-break to secure it 7-6 (7-3). De Minaur had just moved ahead 0-1 in the second set when an apparent left thigh issue worsened. Unable to move freely or compete at full intensity, the Australian stopped play and conceded the match.
Twenty-One Consecutive Years with a Singles Crown
By capturing the trophy in Beijing, Djokovic preserved an extraordinary standard of longevity that began nearly two decades ago. He has won at least one tour-level singles title every calendar year since 2006, stretching his unbroken streak to 21 consecutive seasons. In the all-time men's singles list, only Jimmy Connors with 109 titles and Roger Federer with 103 stand ahead of him. Djokovic now trails Federer's career mark by just a single trophy.
Unbeaten Run in Beijing Extended to 34 Matches
The 24-time Grand Slam champion was appearing in just his second final of the year, having previously reached the Australian Open title clash in January, which he lost to Carlos Alcaraz. With this latest run in Beijing, Djokovic extended his spotless China Open match-winning streak to 34 consecutive matches. The victory also represents his seventh title at the tournament, reinforcing his remarkable affinity with the hard courts of the Chinese capital.
Carlos Alcaraz Defends Title with Japan Open Triumph
Elsewhere on the Asian hard-court swing, Carlos Alcaraz celebrated a significant triumph of his own by lifting the Japan Open trophy. The 25-year-old Spaniard was playing in only his third competitive event since sustaining a wrist injury in April. In the final, he rallied back from an early break of serve to overcome Czech opponent Jiri Lehecka 7-6 (7-4), 6-4, successfully defending his crown in Beijing.
Alcaraz's path back to competition began at the US Open in August, where he advanced to the quarter-finals before exiting in five demanding sets against Ben Shelton. The Japan Open represents Alcaraz's third piece of silverware this season, following his Australian Open triumph in January, which completed his career Grand Slam, and his victory at the Qatar Open in February. Reflecting on his comeback, Alcaraz remarked, "It's extra special after my injury."
