Djokovic is the first man to turn 39 since 39, who was 43 when he won in Hong Kong in 1977. He is also the oldest ATP 500 champion since 2009. In the fight for the ATP Finals.
Djokovic looked much fresher than earlier in the week. Still, the physical therapy began to work on his abs after the first set, as in early matches against Nuno Borges and Yunchaokete Bu.
Djokovic: 10 best three wins
De Minaur had to fend off early pressure, saving break points at 1-0 and 3-2 before Djokovic was able to break back. The Serb himself struggled on serve, hitting just 54 percent of his first serves. He faced just one break point at 2-2 and saved it in style; stretched wide at the end of a long rally where he had absorbed all the attacks, he hit a deflected shot over the line. As neither could break, the set went to a tiebreak. De Minaur, after trying so hard, dropped it with three costly errors and she retired early in the second set.
De Minaur was trying to become the first Australian to win the tournament and the first Australian to defeat Djokovic in the final. Djokovic now leads them 4-1.
Djokovic’s run in Beijing included three Top 10 wins at the same event, his first such week since the 2023 ATP Finals. He beat world No. 2 Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in the quarter-finals before reaching the final when world No. 6 Daniil Medvedev was disqualified. Earlier, he defeated Bou 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 and Borges 6-3, 7-6 (2). His career Top 10 win total now stands at 269 and his record against the Top 10 this season is 6-2.
