Novak Djokovic speaks Mandarin to wow Beijing crowd after China Open triumph

Novak Djokovic continued his extraordinary run in Beijing to claim a record seventh China Open title after returning to the tournament for the first time in 11 years.

The Serbian beat Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the final on Tuesday, although the match ended early after the Australian withdrew with a groin injury. Djokovic won the opening set 7-6(3) and de Minaur retired after winning the first game of the second set, with the match lasting one hour and 14 minutes.

The win extended Djokovic’s perfect record at the China Open to 34-0. He has now won all seven editions of the tournament he has played in, adding the 2026 title to his previous triumphs in 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015. He has not returned to Beijing since defeating Rafael Nadal in the 2015 final.

But after the trophy was secured, it wasn’t Djokovic’s tennis that stole the show.

During an on-court interview, the 39-year-old delighted the Beijing crowd by speaking in Mandarin and thanking the fans for their support. Djokovic has built a huge following in China over the years, and his attempts to communicate with local fans in their language has become one of the ways he has strengthened that connection.

His Mandarin came as no surprise to those who followed his relationship with his Chinese fans. During United Cup 2023, Djokovic surprised players and reporters alike when he spoke Mandarin after Serbia’s victory over China. He also used simple Mandarin phrases during this year’s tournament to acknowledge the support he received from the Beijing crowd.

During his return, the reception in Beijing was particularly warm. After defeating Chinese player Bu Yunchaokete in a three-set battle in the round of 16, Djokovic thanked the fans who stayed in the stadium until almost midnight. He said the support was especially special because he was playing against a Chinese player.

After Tuesday’s final, Djokovic once again acknowledged his connection to the crowd.

He wins the title and then switches to Chinese for the crowd. Novak Djokovic “34:0, seventh trophy, perfect record, perfect touch.” Bilyamin.. (@nigerianpapi_ng) October 6, 2026

“It’s been 11 years since I last played here and honestly, I always have high expectations for myself. Of course, I always want to imagine myself with the trophy, especially here in Beijing – a place where I’ve never lost,” he said.

“But I was also quite aware that today, 11 years later, the reality is a bit different. This year has been quite challenging for me, with a lot of ups and downs, physical and health issues, etc.

The China Open was Djokovic’s first tournament since his shock first-round defeat to Argentina’s Mariano Navon at the US Open last month. It was also his first title in a tough 2026 season.

However, his run in Beijing required him to overcome some serious issues. Djokovic opened his campaign with a straight sets victory over Portugal’s Nuno Borges before China’s Bu took him to three sets. In the quarterfinals, he defeated the second-seeded Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4.

In the semi-finals, he led over Daniil Medvedev 7-5, 5-3 The Russian was in arrears after hitting the ball into the stands which struck the viewer. At the end of the match, Djokovic was just three points away from victory.

The win also pushed Djokovic’s career tally to 102 tournament-level titles, moving him within Roger Federer’s 103 for second in the Open Era. Only Jimmy Connors won more with 109.

At 39, Djokovic also became the oldest man to win an ATP Tour singles title since Ken Rosewall in 1977. More importantly for the Serb, he finally got to show off the trophy in a season that tested him physically and mentally. And in Beijing, where he has never lost, Djokovic found perhaps the ideal place to remind everyone that he is not done yet.

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