Australia’s De Minaur heads to Shanghai for scans after bowing out of Beijing final against Djokovic
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Alex De Minaur reacts after retiring from the men's final singles match against Novak Djokovic at the China Open in Beijing on Oct 6.
PHOTO: EPA
- - Alex de Minaur retired from the China Open final in Beijing with an adductor injury while trailing Novak Djokovic, who won his seventh title there.
- - De Minaur said he will go to Shanghai for scans after feeling the pain during the first set, and he does not yet know how serious the injury is.
- - The injury is a setback before the Shanghai Masters, but De Minaur still hopes to stay in the race for the ATP Finals after strong recent form.
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BEIJING – World No. 9 Alex de Minaur said he intends to head to Shanghai for scans after suffering an adductor injury that forced him to retire from the China Open final in Beijing on Oct 6.
The 27-year-old Australian was engaged in a tight battle with Novak Djokovic when he suffered the injury and retired while trailing 7-6(3) 0-1 in the second set, handing the Serbian great a seventh title in the Chinese capital.
“I was feeling quite good, then I felt something midway through the end of the first set. Yeah, it gradually got a little worse,” De Minaur told reporters.
“Felt something in the adductor. I don’t know what it is yet. I’ve got to get some more scans. My plan is to go to Shanghai and get scans.”
In 2024, De Minaur was forced to withdraw from a Wimbledon quarter-final against Djokovic because of a hip injury and missed the singles tournament at the Paris Olympics before returning at the US Open some seven weeks later.
De Minaur was scheduled to play next this season at the Shanghai Masters, where he reached the quarter-finals in 2025 and which kicks off on Oct 7.
If he is able to play, the Australian No. 1 still has a chance of making the eight-strong field for the ATP Finals, especially after a slot opened up when Jannik Sinner announced on Oct 6 he would play no more tennis in 2026.
De Minaur, who reached the semi-finals of the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin in 2025, said he had been pleased with his form in Beijing.
“Everything except for the end was really positive,” he added. “There was a lot of good tennis. I played some great stuff. Felt amazing on the court.” REUTERS