Novak Djokovic secured the 102nd title of his career at the China Open on October 6 after Australia’s Alex de Minaur retired from the final due to injury. The 39-year-old Serbian extended his unbeaten record at the Beijing tournament to 34-0, claiming his seventh China Open title and his first in the city since 2015.

Djokovic, who has faced considerable physical challenges throughout 2026, described the victory as a boost amid a difficult season. He has been limited to eight tournaments this year due to health issues, including notable struggles at the French Open and US Open, where he endured severe physical distress. Despite these setbacks, the China Open provided a rare moment of success, reinforcing his determination to continue competing at a high level, with ambitions to play until at least the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

The final saw Djokovic win the first set in a tightly contested tiebreak before de Minaur, world No. 9, retired early in the second set due to a left adductor strain. De Minaur had advanced to the final partly through an earlier walkover after Hubert Hurkacz was forced to withdraw injured in the semifinals. Following a medical timeout during the final, de Minaur returned to the court with a visible wrap on his thigh but was unable to continue. He apologized to fans, expressing disappointment at the manner in which the match ended but acknowledged his overall positive performance in Beijing.

Djokovic’s path to the final was also unusual, with his semifinal opponent Daniil Medvedev disqualified for accidentally hitting a spectator with a ball. Djokovic also overcame top-seeded Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals, a significant victory in a year marked by injuries among the leading players. Zverev, who recently secured his first major titles with wins at both the French Open and the US Open, is poised to finish the year as world No. 1 after Jannik Sinner announced he would miss the remainder of the season due to a knee injury.

Sinner’s injury, described by his team as inflammation and reportedly linked to iliotibial (IT) band syndrome, has sidelined the 25-year-old as he focuses on recovery. He has opted for conservative treatment and rest rather than surgery, emphasizing the importance of his long-term career health.

Meanwhile, Carlos Alcaraz has made incremental progress in his comeback from a wrist injury suffered in April. The former world No. 1 claimed a recent title at the Japan Open, his first since February, signaling a return toward competitive form despite not yet reaching peak levels.

Among other developments, former top-20 player Bernard Tomic ended a seven-year absence from Masters 1000 main draws by qualifying for the Shanghai Masters, where he will face Italy's Matteo Arnaldi.

In the women’s competition at the China Open, seventh seed Karolina Muchova advanced to the quarterfinals following a tense three-set victory over former world No. 1 Naomi Osaka. Muchova, who committed a high number of unforced errors, secured the win in a tight final-set tiebreak and will next face fellow Czech Nikola Bartunkova. Russian players Mirra Andreeva and Ekaterina Alexandrova also reached the quarterfinals, with Alexandrova upsetting Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova.

The tournament highlighted ongoing shifts in the men’s and women’s tours, with injuries continuing to impact key figures and emerging players stepping into the spotlight as the season progresses.