Djokovic Clinches Seventh China Open Title After De Minaur Retirement
On.cc · 4 SOURCESabout 2 hours ago1 MIN
Summary
Serbian tennis legend Novak Djokovic claimed his seventh China Open men's singles title on Tuesday after Australian opponent Alex De Minaur retired due to injury during the final in Beijing. The victory gave Djokovic his 102nd career title and ended a title drought stretching back nearly a year. At 39 years and 138 days old, Djokovic also became the oldest ATP 500 champion in history.
Key Points
- Djokovic was leading 7-6(7-3) in the opening set when De Minaur suffered a groin injury in the second set and retired at 0-1 down
- The 39-year-old Serbian extended his remarkable China Open winning streak to 34 consecutive matches with this victory
- Djokovic's 102nd career ATP singles title moves him within striking distance of legends Roger Federer (103) and Jimmy Connors (109)
- In the semifinals, third seed Daniil Medvedev was disqualified for hitting a ball into the stands and striking a spectator
- The world ranking of Djokovic, who was battling health issues this season, is expected to return to the TOP 10 following this win
Why It Matters
Djokovic's triumph marks a remarkable resurgence for the tennis icon, who struggled with form and health challenges throughout much of this season. The victory not only demonstrates his enduring competitiveness at the highest level but also positions him to contend strongly for future Grand Slam titles, with his place among the all-time greats now even more solidified .
Djokovic's triumph marks a remarkable resurgence for the tennis icon, who struggled with form and health challenges throughout much of this season. The victory not only demonstrates his enduring competitiveness at the highest level but also positions him to contend strongly for future Grand Slam titles, with his place among the all-time greats now even more solidified .