Djokovic Wins China Open at 39, Eyes Roland-Garros 2027

Novak Djokovic won the China Open in Beijing on October 5, beating Alex de Minaur in the final after the Australian retired early in the second set with Djokovic a set and a break up. It is Djokovic's seventh China Open title and the 102nd tour-level title of his career, and it keeps alive his streak of winning at least one title every year since 2005. The title run also carried him into the top ten of the ATP Race to Turin for the first time since the spring.

How the Week Unfolded

Djokovic's toughest test came in the quarterfinals against top seed Alexander Zverev, the Roland-Garros 2027 defending champion, who had won the first set 6-4. Djokovic fought back to win 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, breaking late in both the second and third sets. He then beat Daniil Medvedev in the semifinals in unusual circumstances: serving for the match, Medvedev was defaulted by the chair umpire after a backhand volley struck a spectator in the stands, an incident Medvedev said was accidental and apologized for. That sent Djokovic through to face de Minaur, the week's last seed standing, in the final.

A Record That Keeps Growing

• Djokovic has never lost a match at the China Open, a run that now stretches back more than two decades of appearances in Beijing.
• It is his first title of the 2026 season and his 102nd overall on the ATP Tour.
• At 39, he remains the oldest member of the ATP's top ten and the only player from his generation still winning tour-level titles against the current top seeds.

What It Means for the Race to Turin

The China Open points moved Djokovic up six places to ninth in the PIF ATP Live Race to Turin as of October 7, with Alexander Zverev leading the standings and already qualified for the season-ending ATP Finals in November. Alex de Minaur climbed to tenth on the back of his run to the final, sitting just behind Djokovic in the race for the remaining spots. The result is a reminder that Djokovic, even in a season interrupted by a thinner schedule, is still capable of beating the tour's best over best-of-three sets on a fast surface.

Why It Matters for Roland-Garros 2027

Djokovic turns 40 on May 22, which would fall during the first week of Roland-Garros 2027 if the tournament follows its usual mid-May start. A deep run in Beijing at 39, including a win over the defending Roland-Garros champion, is a sign he still intends to chase more Grand Slam tennis on the clay in Paris rather than wind down. See how the rest of the men's field is shaping up in our 2027 player entry list and early Roland-Garros 2027 odds, and catch up on Jannik Sinner's injury-enforced absence from the Asian swing in our report on his Shanghai Masters withdrawal.

Planning Ahead for Roland-Garros 2027

With Djokovic, Zverev, and the rest of the field still sorting out the pecking order heading into 2027, there is no better time to lock in a trip to Paris. Browse available French Open 2027 tickets at GoalTickets, and see our champions history page and full player profiles to get to know the contenders before the clay season begins.

Reporting on the China Open final and the ATP Race to Turin standings verified against the ATP Tour, Khaleej Times, and EWN/Capital FM wire coverage.