Novak Djokovic and Alex de Minaur will contest the 2026 China Open title in Beijing after two abbreviated semifinals delivered an unexpected final pairing at the ATP 500 event.
Djokovic, the sixth seed and a six-time champion in the Chinese capital, advanced when Daniil Medvedev was defaulted. The Serbian led 7-5, 5-3 and was serving for the match when Medvedev struck a ball into the stands and hit a spectator. Officials awarded the match to Djokovic, extending his unbeaten run in Beijing to 33 matches. The 39-year-old had earlier defeated top seed Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals and now seeks his 102nd career ATP title.
De Minaur, the fifth seed, reached his 10th ATP 500 final when Hubert Hurkacz retired with an adductor injury. The Australian led 6-4, 3-2 at the time. Hurkacz had already shown signs of discomfort earlier in the match. De Minaur, who sits near the cutoff for the ATP Finals race, will now test himself against one of the tour’s most dominant hard-court players on this surface.
Djokovic holds a 3-1 head-to-head edge over de Minaur. Their most recent meetings have reinforced the Serbian’s control, though de Minaur’s speed and consistency have produced competitive sets in the past. The final is scheduled for Tuesday on the outdoor hard courts of the China Open, which runs from 30 September to 6 October.
For Djokovic, a victory would further cement his unmatched record at the event. For de Minaur, an upset would mark one of the biggest titles of his career and strengthen his case for year-end qualification.
The match also closes a day of unusual endings that removed both Medvedev and Hurkacz before a ball was struck in the championship match.
