Djokovic wins seventh China Open title, Zverev one win from No. 1

Novak Djokovic won the China Open in Beijing, his seventh title at the event, according to Sky Sports. It was the 102nd tour-level title of his career, the outlet reported. Sky Sports reported that the 39-year-old Serbian did not need a match point in either his semi-final or his final.

In the semi-final, Daniil Medvedev was disqualified after hitting a spectator with the ball, according to Sky Sports. In the final, Alex De Minaur took a medical timeout after the first set and continued with a heavy bandage on his left thigh, Sky Sports reported. The match stood at 7-6 (7-3) 0-1 when the 27-year-old Australian retired.

"It's been 11 years since I last played here," Djokovic said during the trophy ceremony, according to Sky Sports. He said he always had high expectations of himself and always wanted to visualise himself with the trophy in Beijing, a place where he has never lost. He said this year had been challenging for him, with "lots of physical and health issues."

"I want to say sorry to all the amazing fans who came to watch this match," De Minaur said, according to Sky Sports. He said he did not want to finish like this and thanked his team. Former British No 1 Johanna Konta told Sky Sports Tennis: "It's just the anticlimactic nature of it. You don't have the release of emotions." She said Djokovic was the best player this week because a player can only deal with the challenges presented to them, and that she would have been less surprised had Djokovic retired.

Sportschau reported that Alexander Zverev is one win from the world No. 1 ranking after Jannik Sinner announced on Tuesday, 6 October, that ongoing knee problems will keep him out for the rest of the year. Sportschau reported Sinner's lead in the live ranking was 1,280 points after Zverev's quarter-final exit in Beijing. Because the ranking counts results from the past 52 weeks, a player who does not compete cannot defend points, and Sportschau reported Sinner will drop 3,550 points by the end of the year while Zverev can lose at most 1,080.

Sportschau reported that in the worst case for Zverev he would have 8,640 points at the end of the year and Sinner 7,550. Sportschau reported Carlos Alcaraz could still theoretically pass Zverev, but would need to win Shanghai, Paris and the ATP Finals unbeaten and also win an ATP 250 or ATP 500 event in between. Sportschau reported Zverev could take over the top ranking at the earliest at the ATP tournament in Vienna, and that Shanghai runs from 7 to 18 October, where he can gain at most 1,000 points. Sportschau reported Zverev would be only the second German man to top the men's rankings.