BEIJING — Tennis great Jimmy Connors says Novak Djokovic has "exposed tennis" after the 39-year-old claimed a record-extending seventh China Open title on Tuesday in Beijing, improving his perfect record at the ATP 500 event to 34-0. The victory was Djokovic's first title of 2026 and the 102nd ATP Tour singles title of his career, leaving only Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) ahead of him on the all-time list.
Speaking on the latest episode of the Advantage Connors podcast with his son Brett, the eight-time Grand Slam champion hit out at those who had written Djokovic off. "You can say whatever you want about 'Djoker' — he's no slouch," Connors said. "Everybody thinks, 'oh, he's had it, he's 38, 39 years old'. You never count a guy out like that, because you get to the point where every match means something more than it ever did. Especially to him, right?"
Connors said Djokovic's focus remains sharp given the sacrifices of traveling late in his career. "With such little time left, you figure, in his career, that if he's going through the motions and travelling to these different countries and spending time away from his family, that he's going to be focused," he said. "So, let's see what happens with him. And also, [Jannik] Sinner has been out, which kind of opens the door a little bit more for him. We talk about the young guys, let's talk about the old guy too."
Connors then argued the Beijing triumph was a warning to the next generation, comparing it to his own late-career run to the US Open semifinals at age 39 after a wrist injury. "All that does is say, not only is he [Djokovic] that good, but it may expose tennis a little bit," Connors added. "May just expose it to the point where, I mean — I know when I came off a wrist injury [and reached the US Open semi-finals aged 39]. So, I mean, I lost a year and a half and all that, but that kind of exposed tennis a little bit — that these new, great, young, 23, 24, 25-year-olds, maybe better get on it, man… to start taking your place." The comments follow Djokovic's seventh Beijing title, which has reignited debate about his longevity at the top of the ATP Tour.