By Field Level Media
Oct 05 (Field Level Media) – Six-time tournament champion Novak Djokovic will put his unbeaten record at the China Open on the line in Tuesday’s final against Alex de Minaur of Australia.
Djokovic improved to 33-0 in Beijing on Monday when third-seeded Russian Daniil Medvedev defaulted. The sixth-seeded Serbian was leading 7-5, 5-3 when Medvedev struck a ball in frustration into the crowd and appeared to strike a spectator in the head.
Djokovic, 39, will seek his 102nd career ATP Tour title against the fifth- seeded de Minaur, who was leading 6-4, 3-2 when Hubert Hurkacz of Poland retired from their semifinal due to injury. Djokovic is 3-1 all-time against de Minaur.
Japan Open
Top-seeded Carlos Alcaraz advanced to the final in Tokyo by rallying for a 5-7, 6-3, 6-1 victory against fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar in 2 hours and 31 minutes.
Alcaraz squandered a 5-3 lead in the opening set but the World No. 3 broke Munar’s serve three times in the second set and twice more in the decider.
Jiri Lehecka of the Czech Republic rolled to a 6-4, 6-2 win against No. 8 seed Valentin Vacherot of Monaco in just 69 minutes in the other semifinal. Lehecka’s service game was nearly flawless as he struck 10 aces and won 91.7% of the points on his first serve (22 of 24) and 87.5% on his second serve (14 of 16). He never faced a break point.
(–Field Level Media)
