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 Djokovic currently sits ninth in the ‘Live ATP Race to Turin’, but is eighth on a technicality, as Jannik Sinner has withdrawn from the event due to injury.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 |
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 |
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
- 2004 – Did not qualify
- 2005 – Did not qualify
- 2006 – Did not qualify
- 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)
- 2017 – Did not qualify
- 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.
