Novak Djokovic has won the China Open for a record-extending seventh time after Alex de Minaur retired injured during Tuesday’s final in Beijing.
Djokovic was leading 7-6, 0-1 when De Minaur retired with a groin injury. The Australian had taken a medical timeout after losing the opening-set tiebreak and returned with his left thigh heavily bandaged before retiring after one game in the second set.
Djokovic held his nerve in a tight opening set, winning the tiebreak 7-3 to take the advantage before De Minaur was forced to stop.
The victory gives Djokovic his 102nd ATP Tour singles title and extends his perfect China Open record to 34 wins from 34 matches.
It also means the 39-year-old has won at least one singles title in 21 consecutive years, extending his record for the longest such run in men’s tennis.
Djokovic reached the final after beating Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarter-finals, before advancing past Daniil Medvedev in unusual circumstances.
Djokovic was leading Medvedev 7-5, 5-3 in their semi-final when the Russian was defaulted after hitting a ball into the crowd.
The latest title also makes Djokovic the first man since Ken Rosewall in 1977 to win a tour-level singles title after turning 39.
