Alex de Minaur's bid to win a maiden Beijing title has ended in heartbreak, with the Australian retiring one game into the second set of the final against Novak Djokovic with a groin injury.
Alex de Minaur's bid to win a maiden Beijing title has ended in heartbreak, with the Australian retiring one game into the second set of the final against Novak Djokovic with a groin injury.
Djokovic extended his perfect Beijing tournament record to 34 matches with a seventh title in the Chinese capital on Tuesday night, taking the opening set 7-6 in a 67-minute tiebreak before both players took medical timeouts.
The 39-year-old Serbian received a massage on his diaphragm region, as he had several times during the week, while de Minaur left the court for his own treatment. It is believed the Australian world No.9 called for the trainer after losing the first point in the tiebreak.
The injury brought a sudden end to de Minaur's run to his first Beijing final, after he had pushed the tournament's most decorated champion to the limit in a gripping opening set. Djokovic, who has never lost in Beijing, once again proved too strong in the Chinese capital, though the manner of the win was not what either player would have wanted.
Analysis
Why This Matters
- De Minaur was attempting to win the biggest title of his career and end Djokovic's remarkable Beijing dominance.
- The injury is a setback for Australia's top-ranked male player after a strong run to the final.
- Djokovic's continued excellence at 39 raises questions about how long his Beijing stranglehold can last.
Background
The Beijing tournament is one of the key events on the ATP's Asian swing. Djokovic has been its dominant force, with a perfect record in the Chinese capital that now stands at 34 matches and seven titles. De Minaur, Australia's highest-ranked male player, had reached his first Beijing final and was seeking a statement victory over the game's most decorated champion.
Key Perspectives
Alex de Minaur: The Australian pushed Djokovic to a tiebreak in a tight opening set before the groin injury forced him off the court, a bitter end to a run that had put him in position for a maiden Beijing title.
Novak Djokovic: The 39-year-old extended his perfect Beijing record and collected a seventh title, underscoring that he remains the man to beat in the Chinese capital.
Critics and skeptics: The medical timeouts taken by both players, and the sudden nature of de Minaur's injury, may renew scrutiny of the physical demands placed on players in the closing stages of the season. The sight of both men requiring treatment during the final was a reminder of the toll the week had taken.
What to Watch
- The severity of de Minaur's groin injury and whether it affects his preparation for the rest of the season.
- Whether Djokovic's own physical issues, which required treatment throughout the week, persist.
- Whether de Minaur can build on his run to the final once fully fit.