Key Takeaways
- Novak Djokovic won his seventh China Open title at age 39, defeating three top-10 opponents to claim his 102nd ATP crown.
- The Serbian became the oldest ATP 500 champion in history and the oldest overall tour titlist since Ken Rosewall in 1977.
- Djokovic is now only the third man in the Open era to win an ATP singles title after turning 39, joining Rosewall and Richard “Pancho” Gonzales.
Historic run in Beijing marks an unprecedented milestone
Novak Djokovic delivered a vintage performance at the China Open, capturing his seventh Beijing title after an 11-year absence from the tournament. The Serbian superstar secured his 102nd career ATP title and his first since winning in Athens last November, navigating a demanding draw that required him to defeat three top-10 players.
During his march to the trophy, Djokovic took down Alexander Zverev, Daniil Medvedev and Alex de Minaur to protect his unblemished career record in the Chinese capital. At 39 years old, the triumph established him as the oldest ATP 500 champion in tour history and elevated him back inside the world’s top 10 as he pushes toward another appearance at the ATP Finals.
Entering rare company alongside Open era pioneers
The achievement places Djokovic into one of the most exclusive groups in men’s tennis history. He became only the third player in the Open era to secure an ATP singles crown after turning 39, joining Richard “Pancho” Gonzales and Ken Rosewall.
| Player | ATP titles won after age 39 | Notable age milestone |
|---|---|---|
| Richard “Pancho” Gonzales | 9 | Won final title at age 44 |
| Ken Rosewall | 6 | Won titles between 1975 and 1977 |
| Novak Djokovic | 1 | Oldest champion since Rosewall in 1977 |
Gonzales captured nine tour-level titles after turning 39, lifting his final trophy at age 44. Rosewall collected six championships in that age bracket between 1975 and 1977, setting a standard that stood unchallenged for nearly five decades. By hoisting the trophy in Beijing, Djokovic became the oldest ATP tournament champion since Rosewall won in Hong Kong in 1977, pushing the boundaries of longevity at the highest level of the sport.
ATP Shanghai - Novak Djokovic's projected path
Novak Djokovic in 2026
At the moment ranked no.11, the Serbian 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.
Until now, during this year Novak achieved a 19-7 record. Djokovic has won 1 title in Beijing.
