Novak Djokovic retained his magic touch at the China Open, winning his seventh title without a loss as injured opponent Alex de Minaur was forced to quit with a groin strain in their final, handing over a 7-6 (3), 0-1 win. .

The unorthodox Tuesday wrapup was a result of the ATP crashing the calendar in order to shoehorn in Masters 1000 events which can last for up to 12 days instead of the normal seven,

The Beijing final preceeds the start of the Shanghai Masters start by just 24 hours. 

Djokovic and a full house crowd in the capital were taken by surprise as de Minaur played one game to start the second set after losing the first, then limped to the sidelines to shake hands as he could not go on.

Both men had taken medical timeouts after Djokovic won the opening set in 68 minutes. De minaur then returned with his left thigh heavily taped.

Trainers said later that the Australian had suffered a groin strain during the second set.

Djokovic, playing Beijing for the first time in 11 years, remains a perfect 34-0 at the venue, which he first won in 2009.

Throughout a week in which he beat top 10 opponents in his final three matches (Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and de Minaur) the 39-year-old Serb often looked in trouble, struggling for breath after long rallies but somehow scratching out victory after victory.

He now owns 102 career titles, standing one behind now-retired Roger Federer and the 109 of Jimmy Connors.

“I always have high expectations for myself, I visualise myself holding the trophy,” the 24-time Grand Slam winner said.

“This is a place where I’ve never lost. But I’m aware that the (physical) is different these days. This year has  been truly challenging for me.

“I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, physical and health issues. I’ve struggled to find that good feeling on court.

“But when I’m feeling well I know I can still compete at the highest level.”

Djokovic thrilled local fans with a few phrases in Mandarin to cheers and excitement.

“This trophy means more than just one trophy and one tournament. I’m very, very happy about that.

“Beijing is a special place for me. I’m really sorry for the way Alex had to finish. I hope you can recover quickly.”

De Minaur was gutted by his forced exit after flying around the world since the US Open to Australia (Davis Cup) and then London for Laver Cup before heading to the Chinese capital.

“I don’t feel great, but congrats to Novak and his team. It was pretty amazing to watch the tennis he has produced this whole week.

“I want to say sorry to the amazing fans, I didn;t want it to finish like this.”

While his participation in Shanghai remains an open question – likely based on his current fitness – Djokovic will not play his opening match until Friday in the nation’s commercial capital.

Main photo:- Novak Djokovic with China Open trophy – by ATPTour.com

Novak Djokovic advanced to his seventh final in Beijing on Monday as opponent Daniil Medvedev earned a disqualificaion late in their second set after accidentally striking a spectator as he hit a ball into the crowd,

The incident and on-the-spot sanction echoed Djokovic’s own DQ at the 2020 USO when he struck a lineswoman in the throat in similar circumstances and was tossed out of the event in the fourth round..

 The 39-year-old Serb became the oldest finalist in ATP history with his 7-5, 5-3 win which took two and a half hours of hard hitting from both men; he has never lost at the tournament, compiling a 33-0 record for six titles.

.”The end was a bit of a shock, though I didn’t see what happened,” the 24-time Grand Slam champion, now into his 146th ATP final, said.”I feel worried for the person (apparently hit around the left eye area) and I also feel sorry for Dani..

“I know how it feels to be defaulted in a big match. I’m sure he did not do it intentionally.”

Djokovic, his physical resources stretched repeatedly to the lit in a battle of near-perfect groundstrokes, set the tone for the evening in the capital as he saved three break points in a monster eight-minute opening game before coming from a break down against Medvedev.

The Serb earned two more breaks to steal the set on his third chance after 80 minutes.

Djokovic held to start the second, breaking for a 4-2 lead but frustratingly dropping serve a game later. He broke straight back for a 5-3 lead when the Medvedev incident occured to end the match prematurely.

“I was three points from victory and did not want to take this to a third set.. I saved so many break points (16 of 18)

“It’s always a battle with him… but we move on

Djokovic and Medvedev had not met since the 2023 US Open final won by the Ser
Djokovic will play the Tuesday final against Alex de Minaur, who reached the title match when opponent Hubert Hurkacz retired with an abdominal injury to hand over a 6-4, 3-2 victory to the Australia

Djokovic, playing his first event since losing in the US Open first round for the only time in his career, stands 5-1 against De Minaur, with their last two meetings coming at Wimbledon

“I always believed in myself,” Djokovic said. “My draw was not very favourable (in Beijing). I had tough matches from the beginning.

“To make a run to the final is sweet. Another final here is something… Beijing just keeps me going.”

Main photo:-Djokovic reaches 7th Beijing final as Medvedev DQ’d – by ATPTour.com

Novak Djokovic brushed off a slow start and a disappointing first set to win his 32nd straight match at the China Open on Sunday, reaching the semi-finals 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 over red-hot Alexander Zverev in Beijing.

Djokovic, playing the event he has won six times for the first time in more than a decade, has come alive this week as he beats the odds to stay in the title chase.

The 39-year-old took little notice of a poor few opening games which ultimately resulted in him losing the set to reigning Roland Garros and US open champion Zverev. 

Djokovic becomes the first man in the Open era to win his first 32 matches at a single event; he has now reached the semis here for a seventh time as he runs his career record over Zverev to 10-5.

“It’s been a struggle this year, to be honest, for different reasons, but I’m still there, still grinding, still making the youngsters work for their money. I’m just glad to push it through,” the winner said.

rogDjokovic was broken in the opening set, eventually losing it as Zverev ran off four consecutive games.

But the Serb with 101 career titles got to work in the second set, squaring the match on a break of serve. He finished off his defeat of the world No. 2 in the third set on his second match point with Zverev delivering an impressive 19 aces in defeat.

“These are the kind of moments that I still play for, compete for,” Djokovic said.

“The motivation is big obviously when you are feeling good and competing at par with the best players in the world, in front of 15,000 people of course.

“These are the kind of moments that define dreams, I think, of every tennis player.”

He added:  “He’s the best player in the world at the moment for sure, on a huge run and confidence roll.

“When he’s serving the way he was serving tonight and the whole year, it’s just a nightmare for the opponent.

“You don’t have too many opportunities and when they are presented, if you don’t use them, it’s frustrating.

“I’m just glad that I held my nerves, played good shots at important moments, 5-4 in the second and third.”

Djokovic bids for his first final since January, when he lost to Carlos Alcaraz in the Australian Open title match as he faces Daniil Medvedev in their semi-final.

Main photo:- Novak Djokovic celebrates win over Roland Garros and US Open champion Alexander Zverev – ©ATPTour.com