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Djokovic wins seventh China Open title after De Minaur retires injured in final

Novak Djokovic won the China Open in Beijing when Alex de Minaur retired injured early in the second set of the final. It was Djokovic's seventh title in seven appearances at the event and his 102nd career tour-level title.

3 outlets · 1L · 1C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Irish Independent
Image: Anadolu Agency
Image: ABC News (Australia)

1 / 3

The story, neutrally told

Mixed · 2Novak Djokovic won his seventh China Open title on Tuesday after Alex de Minaur retired injured in the final in Beijing. Mixed · 2Djokovic took the first set 7-6 (7-3) after 67 minutes, then called for the trainer for treatment on what ABC described as his ongoing physical struggles. Mixed · 2De Minaur then took an off-court medical timeout for what appeared to be a groin injury and returned with his left thigh heavily strapped.

Mixed · 2He won the opening game of the second set but then told Djokovic at the net that he could not continue, so the match ended at 7-6 (7-3) 0-1. Left · 1At the trophy presentation the 27-year-old fifth seed said he did not want to finish this way and apologised to the fans, while Djokovic, 39, said he was sorry for how the final ended and hoped his opponent would recover quickly. Left · 1Djokovic said his year had been challenging, with ups and downs and physical and health issues, but that when he strikes the ball well he can still compete at the highest level.

Centre · 1Anadolu reported the win extended Djokovic's record at the China Open to 34-0, a title in each of his seven appearances. Centre · 1It was his first title of 2026 and his 102nd at tour level, one behind Roger Federer and seven short of Jimmy Connors' Open-era record of 109, and he became the first player to win at least one tour-level singles title in 21 consecutive seasons. Right · 1The Irish Independent's headline notes Djokovic claimed the title without winning match points in the semi-final or the final.

Centre · 1Separately, in Tokyo, Carlos Alcaraz beat Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic 7-6 (4), 6-4 to retain the Japan Open, his 27th career title and third of 2026, and his first since returning from a right wrist injury that kept him out for about four and a half months.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.

Left1 outlet

Framing
ABC (Australia) tells it from De Minaur's side as a sad end to a brilliant contest, with both players needing treatment.
Emphasis
Medical timeouts, De Minaur's apology and Djokovic's sympathy and comments on his difficult year.
Leaves out or plays down
Djokovic's 34-0 record and the career-title context, and the Alcaraz result.
Charged language
“left shattered”“lung-busting”“amazing 39-year-old”
For example
“Alex de Minaur has been left shattered by having to pull out injured” — ABC News (Australia)

Centre1 outlet

Framing
Anadolu gives a statistical results report covering two tournaments.
Emphasis
Records: 34-0 in Beijing, 102 titles, 21 consecutive seasons, plus Alcaraz's Japan Open defence.
Leaves out or plays down
Quotes from the players and Djokovic's own treatment during the match.
Charged language
“perfect record”
For example
“extends perfect record to 34-0” — Anadolu Agency

Right1 outlet

Framing
The Irish Independent headline stresses that Djokovic won the title without winning match points in the semi-final or final.
Emphasis
The unusual way the title was secured.
Leaves out or plays down
Not assessable beyond the headline.
For example
“Novak Djokovic wins claims seventh China Open title without winning match points in semi-final or final” — Irish Independent