Key Takeaways
- Novak Djokovic collected his 7th China Open title and 102nd career ATP trophy after Alex de Minaur retired in the final.
- Iga Swiatek commended Djokovic during her Beijing campaign, stating: “He is a GOAT”.
- Swiatek advanced to the China Open quarter-finals with a 6-1, 6-3 win over Iva Jovic.
Praise for an undefeated Beijing champion
Novak Djokovic extended his dominance in the Chinese capital by claiming his 7th China Open title, maintaining a flawless 34-0 match record at the tournament. The 39-year-old Serbian secured his 102nd career ATP crown after final opponent Alex de Minaur was forced to retire due to an injury while Djokovic led 7-6(7-3), 0-1.
Shortly after reaching the quarter-finals of the women’s event, Iga Swiatek expressed pure admiration for the Serbian veteran during her on-court interview. She pointed out that his longevity and relentless pursuit of excellence serve as a major inspiration across the entire sport.
“He is a GOAT”, Swiatek said, highlighting his exceptional focus across seasons before adding that “he’s really amazing”. She also emphasized his rare generosity when it comes to offering technical guidance to fellow competitors.
Progress in Beijing for the former champion
Swiatek booked her spot in the final 8 by defeating Iva Jovic 6-1, 6-3. That straightforward victory followed a far more grueling test in the second round, where the 8th seed had to rally past Donna Vekic in three hard-fought sets.
| Round | Opponent | Result |
|---|---|---|
| First round | Gao Xinyu | 6-2, 6-3 |
| Second round | Donna Vekic | 4-6, 7-6(7-0), 6-2 |
| Round of 16 | Iva Jovic | 6-1, 6-3 |
The 6-time Grand Slam winner, who previously lifted the Beijing trophy in 2023, noted that her form felt much sharper against Jovic. With top contenders such as Aryna Sabalenka and Elena Rybakina already eliminated, Swiatek now awaits either Coco Gauff or Elise Mertens as she seeks another deep run in the tournament.
ATP Shanghai - Novak Djokovic's projected path
Novak Djokovic in 2026
Now ranked no.11, Novak played his last match on the 6th of October when he overcame world no.9 Alex De Minaur 7-6(3) 0-1 in the final in Beijing to win his 102nd career title.
At present, during this year the Serbian owns a composed 19-7 match record. Djokovic conquered 1 title in Beijing.
