Australian tennis star Alex de Minaur is set to undergo medical scans in Shanghai after an injury forced him to retire from the China Open final against Novak Djokovic.
De Minaur was competing strongly against Djokovic in the final in Beijing before suffering what appeared to be an adductor injury. He lost the opening set 7-6(3) and managed only one game in the second set before deciding he could not continue.
The 27-year-old said he felt something in his adductor towards the end of the first set. Although he continued playing and completed the set, the pain became worse.
After the first set, De Minaur received treatment before returning to the court. He played one more game in the second set but was clearly struggling with his movement. He eventually walked to the net and retired from the match.
“I felt something in the adductor. I don’t know what it is yet. I’ve got to get some more scans,” De Minaur said.
The Australian apologised to the fans after the match because he could not finish the final.
Despite the disappointing ending, De Minaur had a strong tournament in Beijing. He defeated several quality opponents on his way to the final and entered the match with a seven-match winning streak.
He said almost everything about his week in Beijing had been positive apart from the injury that ended his final.
De Minaur is scheduled to compete at the Shanghai Masters and plans to have the scans there to determine the seriousness of the injury.
The injury could be important for his hopes of qualifying for the ATP Finals in Turin. With the end of the season approaching, every tournament is important for players hoping to secure a place among the world’s best.
Meanwhile, Djokovic went on to claim his seventh China Open title after De Minaur’s retirement. The Serbian star remained unbeaten in Beijing and secured his 102nd career ATP title.
