De Miñaur reveals the injury that forced him to withdraw against Djokovic

Fernando Murciego - 6 Oct 2026 | 16:01
ATP Alex de Miñaur Novak Djokovic ATP Pekín 2026

The Australian experienced a bitter moment this Tuesday when he was forced to withdraw from the Beijing final after the first set against Novak Djokovic. Later, in a press conference, De Minaur revealed what injury he had sustained.

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De Miñaur reveals the injury that forced him to withdraw against Djokovic. Source: Getty

It cannot be easy to withdraw from a final like the one at the ATP 500 in Beijing when on the other side of the net is Novak Djokovic and you have just played a set that lasted 67 minutes. This was the reality that Alex De Minaur had to face today, a man who ended up broken after that first set and had no choice but to throw in the towel.

We were very attentive during the trophy presentation to see if the Australian would share any news regarding his discomfort. What had happened to him? Why was he so sure he could not continue? However, Alex focused on congratulating his opponent and thanking the audience for their attendance at the stadium. Minutes later, now with the calmness of time passed, De Minaur met with the media in a press conference that had barely three questions. Enough to understand his current state.

Initially, the Australian explained after the match that he had not felt any discomfort before stepping onto the court. “No, I didn’t feel anything. I was feeling quite well,” he assured. The problem arose during the first set, when he began to notice something strange in the groin area. “At that moment I felt something, halfway through the first set. Something that gradually worsened,” he explained to the media.

The situation became unsustainable after a particularly demanding first set, in which both players even had to call for a physiotherapist's assistance. De Minaur returned to the court to play the second set, but after just one game decided not to continue.

Shanghai, awaiting tests

De Minaur still does not know exactly the extent of the injury. The Australian admitted that he will have to undergo further tests before knowing the definitive diagnosis. “I felt something in the groin, I don’t know what it is yet, I need to get more tests done,” he explained. Despite the uncertainty, the Beijing finalist plans to travel immediately to Shanghai, where he is scheduled to compete in the next Masters 1000 of the Asian tour. “My plan is to go to Shanghai and get the tests done,” he confirmed.

The injury represents a slight setback to a week that, up until that point, had been extraordinarily positive for De Minaur. The oceanic player wanted to focus on that part of his time in Beijing and on the sensations he regained on the court. “Everything, except the end, has been really positive,” he acknowledged. “There was good tennis, I played really well at times, and I felt incredible on the court,” he added. A confidence he hopes to carry into the next tournament, as long as the medical tests confirm he is fit to compete.

“I take a lot of confidence from this first week,” De Minaur concluded. Now, that confidence will have to wait for the results of the medical exams. The goal is to reach Shanghai, but first, to know exactly what has happened with his groin.

This is an automatic translation. You can read the original news, De Miñaur revela la lesión que le obligó a retirarse ante Djokovic