Djokovic Wins China Open After De Minaur Retires

The final itself was shaped by two unfinished semi-finals on Monday. Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from their semi-final while Djokovic led by a set and a break, BBC (the British Broadcasting Corporation) reported. De Minaur also reached the final without finishing his match, because Hubert Hurkacz withdrew with an injury, The Guardian reported. Djokovic had already beaten top seed Alexander Zverev. He is now unbeaten in 34 China Open matches and has never lost in Beijing, where he had not played for 11 years. The Daily Mail noted that he is the oldest man to win a tour-level title since Ken Rosewall in 1977.

The trophy also stretches a streak in which Djokovic has won at least one singles title in each of the past 21 years. Only Jimmy Connors, with 109 titles, and Roger Federer, with 103, stand ahead of him, so one more trophy would tie Federer for second place. Djokovic said he always pictures himself with the trophy, "particularly here in Beijing, the place where I've never lost," and that this one "means much more than one trophy, one tournament." He was left in tears after a first-round loss at the US Open during a hard year of physical and health problems, yet he said that when he is feeling well and striking the ball well he can still compete at the highest level. The result is also set to put him back inside the world's top 10. He called the week evidence that he can still compete at the highest level and said he was very proud.