Key Takeaways
- Novak Djokovic collected his 102nd career ATP title and seventh Beijing trophy when Alex de Minaur retired in the second set of the final.
- The Serbian veteran acknowledged that he has questioned whether he wants to continue playing during a difficult 2026 season.
- Following early exits across multiple tournaments, Djokovic heads to the Shanghai Masters aiming to extend his winning run in China.
Reflections on a bittersweet victory in Beijing
Novak Djokovic captured his 102nd career singles trophy in unusual fashion at the China Open final. Facing Alex de Minaur, the former world number one took a grueling opening set in a tiebreak before his Australian opponent was forced to retire due to injury trailing 7-6, 0-1.
The finish left Djokovic with mixed emotions on the court. While pleased to secure another crown, he acknowledged the awkward nature of back-to-back matches ending early, pointing out that “it doesn’t feel right” to celebrate excessively when an opponent stops due to physical issues. Nevertheless, the victory marked his seventh triumph in Beijing, extending his spotless career record in the Chinese capital to 34 matches without a single defeat.
Rebounding after setbacks in the 2026 season
The triumph in Beijing came as a welcome relief following months of inconsistent form. After reaching the Australian Open final at the beginning of 2026, Djokovic encountered unexpected exits at several high-profile tournaments across the spring and summer swings.
The veteran admitted that the recent slump had taken an emotional toll, openly sharing that he had contemplated whether to continue competing at this stage of his career. However, navigating the pressure-filled rounds in China proved to be the spark he needed heading into the final stretch of the year.
| Tournament | Round | Opponent | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Indian Wells | 4R | Jack Draper | 6-4, 4-6, 6-7 |
| Italian Open | 2R | Dino Prizmic | 6-2, 2-6, 4-6 |
| French Open | 3R | Joao Fonseca | 6-4, 6-4, 3-6, 5-7, 5-7 |
| Cincinnati Open | 2R | Thiago Agustin Tirante | 6-2, 4-6, 4-6 |
| US Open | 1R | Mariano Navone | 6-7, 7-5, 6-4, 2-6, 1-6 |
Looking ahead to the Shanghai Masters
En route to the title in Beijing, Djokovic overcame a challenging draw featuring Nuno Borges, Yunchaokete Bu, Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev, and ultimately De Minaur. His attention now turns to the Shanghai Masters, where he enters as the 10th seed.
Awaiting the winner of the clash between Hubert Hurkacz and James Duckworth in the second round, Djokovic faces a path that could involve matchups against Lorenzo Musetti, Alejandro Davidovich Fokina, Frances Tiafoe, and Carlos Alcaraz as he bids to claim successive trophies on Chinese soil.
ATP Shanghai - Novak Djokovic's projected path
Novak Djokovic in 2026
Currently the world no.11, Novak played his last match on the 6th of October when he defeated world no.9 Alex De Minaur 7-6(3) 0-1 in the final in Beijing to win his 102nd career title.
This season the Serbian achieved a 19-7 match record. Djokovic has won 1 title in Beijing.
