Alex de Minaur sends message to Novak Djokovic days after retiring during their match in the China Open final
Alex de Minaur retired from the China Open final against Novak Djokovic due to a groin injury, allowing Djokovic to claim his 102nd ATP title. De Minaur later expressed his support for Djokovic on social media as both players look toward future tournaments.
Why it matters
The result marks a significant milestone for Djokovic as he nears the all-time ATP title record held by Jimmy Connors.
A compelling final at the 2026 China Open came to an abrupt and unexpected end when Novak Djokovic's opponent, Alex de Minaur, called a halt to the contest early in the second set.
After Djokovic won the opening-set tiebreak to clinch the lead, both players took a medical timeout. De Minaur returned to the court and won the first game of the second set, but after a brief look over at his team and a shake of the head, he retired with a groin injury.
Djokovic captured his 102nd ATP title as a result and became the first player ever to have won a tour-level crown every year for 21 consecutive seasons. The Serb hoisted his seventh China Open trophy, extending his undefeated streak at the tournament to 34-0.
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in