Another great achievement and a seventh title in Beijing for Novak!
The Serbian was leading fifth seed Alex de Minaur 7-6 (3), 0-1 in the China Open final when the Australian was forced to retire due to injury.
The match lasted one hour and 23 minutes, with the victory giving Novak his first title of the season and the 102nd trophy of his career.
Novak extended his remarkable record in Beijing to 34 wins from 34 matches, but his title triumph also saw him set a record that no player had achieved before. He became the first player in tennis history to win at least one title in 21 consecutive seasons.
The opening set was closely contested from the start, with both players producing a high level of tennis. Novak had the first break opportunity in the second game but could not convert it. He then had to save a break point in the fifth game, while de Minaur was put under pressure in the following game and managed to escape with the help of some excellent serving. The set was decided in a tie-break, where Novak was more composed on the key points. He secured two mini-breaks and used his advantage to take the set 7-6 (3) after 67 minutes.
Both players received medical attention after the opening set. Following the return to the court, de Minaur held serve, but was unable to continue due to his injury.
“The last time I played here was 11 years ago. Beijing is a place where I have never lost. I’ve been a little out of rhythm lately. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs, as well as health and physical issues. That’s why this title means much more to me than just the trophy itself. I felt good on the court here again, and when I feel that way, I can play my tennis, strike the ball the way I want to and win titles. I wouldn’t be able to achieve these kinds of results at a place where I don’t feel good. I love this stadium. The people here are very passionate, and their energy is a big part of my success in Beijing,” Novak said during the trophy presentation.
Novak’s next appearance will come at the Shanghai Masters, which gets underway tomorrow. You can find the draw here.
Photo: Profimedia
