Preview China Open Final | Novak Djokovic eyes 102nd title as Alex de Minaur stands between him and history
ATP
Novak Djokovic will face Alex de Minaur in the China Open final after reaching the championship match in dramatic circumstances. The No. 6 seed advanced after Daniil Medvedev was defaulted while Djokovic was serving for the match at 7-5, 5-3, setting up a final against the fifth-seeded Australian.
The result completed another demanding week for Djokovic, who had already defeated top seed Alexander Zverev in a three-set quarter-final. The Serbian is now one victory away from his 102nd tour-level title, which would move him within one of Roger Federer's Open Era record of 103.
De Minaur has taken a different route to the final but has also benefited from an opponent's retirement. The Australian defeated Mariano Navone, Quentin Halys and Andrey Rublev before leading Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 3-2 in the semifinals when the Pole retired with an adductor injury.
The Beijing final will be Djokovic's first ATP 500 championship match since winning Astana in 2022 and his first final since the Australian Open in January. De Minaur, meanwhile, is into his 10th ATP 500 final and will be looking to add another title to a season in which he has continued to establish himself among the game's leading hard-court competitors.
Djokovic reaches another final after dramatic Medvedev finish
Djokovic has been forced to work throughout the China Open. He opened his campaign with a straight-set victory over Nuno Borges before needing three sets to overcome Chinese wild card Bu Yunchaokete. The six-time China Open champion then produced one of his most significant wins of the season against Zverev, recovering from a first-set defeat to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.
The semifinal against Medvedev was another high-level battle. Djokovic took the opening set 7-5 and was serving at 5-3, 15/15 in the second when Medvedev reacted instinctively to a ball that had bounced away from him. His shot travelled into the stands and struck a spectator in the face, leading to his default.
Not the ending we expected 😮 @DjokerNole advances to the Beijing final after Medvedev is defaulted whilst down 5-7 3-5 #ChinaOpen https://t.co/Pae5eNrJ6W
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 5, 2026
The circumstances inevitably recall Djokovic's infamous US Open default in 2020, although the incidents were very different. Djokovic was defaulted in New York after accidentally striking a line judge with a ball, while in Beijing it was Medvedev who was defaulted after hitting a ball into the crowd.
The Serbian had nevertheless done the majority of the work before the incident. His run has included wins over players ranked No.49, No.104, No.1 and No.3, giving him one of the strongest paths to the China Open final. Djokovic's reward is a chance to claim the 102nd title of his career. Only Jimmy Connors, with 109, and Federer, with 103, have won more tour-level trophies in the men's Open Era.
He will also be playing his 146th tour-level final, tying Ivan Lendl for third-most among men in the Open Era. The final therefore carries significance beyond the China Open itself, with Djokovic continuing to add to his records deep into his career.
Djokovic's path to the final
| Round | Opponent | Ranking | Score |
| R32 | Nuno Borges | No. 49 | 6-3, 7-6(2) |
| R16 | Bu Yunchaokete | No. 104 | 4-6, 7-6(2), 6-2 |
| QF | Alexander Zverev | No. 2 | 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 |
| SF | Daniil Medvedev | No. 6 | 7-5, 5-3 Def. |
| Final | Alex de Minaur | No. 10 | TBD |
De Minaur looks to add another ATP 500 title
De Minaur's path to the final has also required several recoveries. He began by beating Mariano Navone in straight sets before being pushed hard by Quentin Halys. The Australian lost the opening set and was forced to save his tournament against the Frenchman, eventually winning 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 after two hours and 47 minutes.
The quarter-final against Rublev followed a similar pattern. De Minaur was overwhelmed in the opening set, losing it 6-1, but changed the momentum to win the next two sets 6-2, 6-3. He converted nine of 12 break-point opportunities in the match and advanced after two hours.
His semifinal was considerably shorter. De Minaur led Hurkacz 6-4, 3-2 when the Polish player retired with an adductor injury. Hurkacz had reportedly first felt the problem during his quarter-final victory over Karen Khachanov and was visibly hampered before ending his run.
That means De Minaur arrives in the final having spent significantly less time on court in the semifinals than Djokovic. The Australian needed only one hour and eight minutes against Hurkacz, while Djokovic's semifinal lasted two hours and 29 minutes before the default.
De Minaur's path to the final
| Round | Opponent | Ranking | Score |
| R32 | Mariano Navone | No. 45 | 7-6(4), 6-2 |
| R16 | Quentin Halys | No. 50 | 3-6, 7-6(5), 7-5 |
| QF | Andrey Rublev | No. 24 | 1-6, 6-2, 6-3 |
| SF | Hubert Hurkacz | No. 39 | 6-4, 3-2 RET |
| Final | Novak Djokovic | No. 11 | TBD |
Djokovic vs De Minaur: head-to-head
Djokovic leads De Minaur 3-1 in their Lexus ATP Head2Head series, although the Australian has already shown that he can beat the Serbian on a major stage. Their most recent meeting came at the 2025 Australian Open, where De Minaur won in straight sets to claim his first victory over Djokovic.
| Year | Tournament | Round | Winner | Score |
| 2025 | Wimbledon | Round of 16 | Novak Djokovic | 1-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2024 | Monte-Carlo | Quarterfinal | Novak Djokovic | 7-5, 6-4 |
| 2024 | United Cup | Quarterfinal | Alex de Minaur | 6-4, 6-4 |
| 2023 | Australian Open | Round of 16 | Novak Djokovic | 6-2, 6-1, 6-2 |
The head-to-head gives Djokovic the clear statistical advantage, but De Minaur's most recent victory cannot be overlooked. The Australian completely disrupted Djokovic in Melbourne, winning 12 consecutive games to close out the match and demonstrating how effectively his speed and defensive qualities can frustrate the Serbian.
The China Open final will be their first meeting since that Australian Open clash, adding another layer to an already interesting matchup. Djokovic will enter with the stronger overall record, but De Minaur has the confidence of knowing that he has already solved the problem once.
What to expect in the China Open final
For Djokovic, the key will be controlling the tempo and preventing De Minaur from turning the match into a physical exchange dominated by movement. The Australian's court coverage can force opponents to hit extra balls, but Djokovic has spent much of his career finding ways to absorb that pressure before changing direction and taking control.
De Minaur will need to make the most of his speed while looking for opportunities to attack Djokovic's second serve and prevent the Serbian from establishing comfortable patterns from the baseline. His comeback victories over Halys and Rublev showed his ability to change matches, but Djokovic represents a significant step up from both opponents.
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At this stage of his career, Djokovic has turned his efficiency on serve into a key weapon, but if his first-serve percentage drops, De Minaur is precisely the type of player capable of exploiting his second serve. The Australian will look to keep Djokovic deep behind the baseline and prevent him from hitting too comfortably, particularly with his backhand, which can be used to disrupt the rhythm of longer exchanges.
For Djokovic, victory would deliver his 102nd tour-level title, move him within one of Federer's 103 and give him his first ATP 500 trophy since Astana in 2022. For De Minaur, a victory would represent another significant title in a tournament where he has already demonstrated considerable resilience.
Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist
Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.
His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.
In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.
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