Novak Djokovic defeated Alex de Minaur in the China Open final to win his first title of the season and edge closer to ATP Finals qualification.
Earlier in the week, Djokovic said he wanted to compete in the ATP Finals if he qualifies this year, having skipped the event in 2024 and 2025. Winning the title in Beijing, Djokovic earned 500 ranking points, moving him into the qualification places.
But how much distance did the Serb put between himself and the chasing pack, and what else must he do to book his ticket to Turin?
Novak Djokovic occupies the final qualification spot in the Race to Turin
The eight players who earn the most points in a calendar year qualify for the season-ending ATP Finals in Turin. Djokovic currently sits ninth in the ‘Live ATP Race to Turin’, but is eighth on a technicality, as Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the event due to injury.
Live ATP Race to Turin
Rank
Player
Country
Points
Status
1
Alexander Zverev
Germany
8,750
Qualified
2
Jannik Sinner
Italy
7,950
Will not play
3
Carlos Alcaraz
Spain
4,560
Qualified
4
Ben Shelton
USA
4,430
Currently qualifying
5
Flavio Cobolli
Italy
3,540
Currently qualifying
6
Frances Tiafoe
USA
3,380
Currently qualifying
7
Arthur Fils
France
3,285
Currently qualifying
8
Daniil Medvedev
Russia
3,020
Currently qualifying
9
Novak Djokovic
Serbia
2,840
Currently qualifying
10
Alex de Minaur
Australia
2,690
Not currently qualifying
11
Rafael Jodar
Spain
2,519
Not currently qualifying
12
Taylor Fritz
USA
2,490
Not currently qualifying
13
Jakub Mensik
Czechia
2,405
Not currently qualifying
14
Tommy Paul
USA
2,385
Not currently qualifying
15
Felix Auger-Aliassime
Canada
2,375
Not currently qualifying
16
Brandon Nakashima
USA
2,275
Not currently qualifying
Live ATP Race to Turin
He leads the man he beat in the China Open final, De Minaur, by 150 points, and Spain’s Rafael Jodar is a further 171 points adrift. The next five players in the ‘Live ATP Race’: Taylor Fritz, Jakub Mensik, Tommy Paul, Felix Auger-Aliassime, and Brandon Nakashima are all within 565 points of Djokovic.
So, with that being true, Djokovic can’t rest on his laurels over the coming weeks. There are still two Masters 1000 events to be played this year, in Shanghai and Paris, both offering up 1,000 ranking points. Djokovic will likely need to make a deep run in at least one of the two tournaments to guarantee his spot in the year-end finals.
Otherwise, he might miss out for the first time in nine years. Djokovic failed to qualify for the 2017 ATP Finals, finishing 12th in the race, behind the likes of Juan Martin del Potro and Pablo Carreno Busta.
2017 ATP Race
Rank
Player
Country
Points
Status
1
Rafael Nadal
Spain
10,645
Qualified
2
Roger Federer
Switzerland
9,005
Qualified
3
Alexander Zverev
Germany
4,410
Qualified
4
Dominic Thiem
Austria
3,815
Qualified
5
Marin Cilic
Croatia
3,805
Qualified
6
Grigor Dimitrov
Bulgaria
3,650
Qualified
7
Stan Wawrinka
Switzerland
3,150
Did not play
8
David Goffin
Belgium
2,975
Qualified
9
Jack Sock
USA
2,765
Qualified
10
Pablo Carreno Busta
Spain
2,615
Did not qualify
11
Juan Martin del Potro
Argentina
2,595
Did not qualify
12
Novak Djokovic
Serbia
2,585
Did not qualify
13
Sam Querrey
USA
2,535
Did not qualify
2017 ATP Race
How many times has Novak Djokovic won the ATP Finals?
Djokovic is a record seven-time ATP Finals champion. The veteran won his first title in 2008 and added to his tally with wins in 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2022, and 2023.
Novak Djokovic’s ATP Finals history
2007 – Qualified (Lost in RR)
2008 – Qualified (Champion)
2009 – Qualified (Lost in RR)
2010 – Qualified (Lost in SF)
2011 – Qualified (Lost in RR)
2012 – Qualified (Champion)
2013 – Qualified (Champion)
2014 – Qualified (Champion)
2015 – Qualified (Champion)
2016 – Qualified (Lost in F)
2018 – Qualified (Lost in F)
2019 – Qualified (Lost in RR)
2020 – Qualified (Lost in SF)
2021 – Qualified (Lost in SF)
2022 – Qualified (Champion)
2023 – Qualified (Champion)
2024 – Qualified (Did not play)
2025 – Qualified (Did not play)
Only time will tell if he can win an eighth title in 2026. First, he must qualify, and Djokovic will be keen to improve his chances of doing so by performing at the upcoming Shanghai Masters. Djokovic will play Hubert Hurkacz or James Duckworth in the second round.