‘Means more than just a trophy’ – Djokovic claims 102nd title of career

Novak Djokovic secured his 102nd career title when he defeated Alex de Minaur in the China Open final, despite De Minaur retiring injured with a left thigh injury. The 39-year-old Serbian led the Australian 7-6 (7-3), 0-1 before De Minaur was forced to quit the match. Djokovic's 21st year in a row of winning at least one singles title puts him behind Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103).

He is currently on a 34-match winning streak at the China Open, having won the tournament seven times. Djokovic stated that the trophy from Beijing holds more significance than any other because it is the first place he has never lost. The 24-time Grand Slam champion reached his second final of the year after losing the Australian Open final to Carlos Alcaraz in January.

Djokovic's previous titles include a victory over world number two Alexander Zverev and a set and a break lead over third seed Daniil Medvedev before Medvedev was defaulted in their semi-final. Djokovic's consistent high performance at the highest level has been a testament to his skill, but his body has occasionally hindered his progress.

He was left emotional following a grueling first-round loss at the US Open and mentioned battling a "serious health condition" that was particularly challenging in hot conditions. However, his recent victory at the China Open validates his resilience and ability to compete at the highest level despite his health issues. This win also places Djokovic back inside the world's top 10.