Novak Djokovic won the China Open after opponent Alex de Minaur was forced to retire injured in the final. Meanwhile, Spain's Carlos Alcaraz successfully defended his Japan Open title, continuing his comeback after a long absence due to a wrist injury.
In the final in Beijing, Djokovic took the first set 7-6(3) in a tie-break and was leading by one game in the second when de Minaur called it quits. The Australian had left the court for a medical check after losing the first-set tie-break but continued playing with his left thigh heavily strapped. He was forced to stop after winning the first game of the second set, with the score 7-6(3), 0-1 in Djokovic's favour.
Speaking at the trophy ceremony, de Minaur said: "I'm not feeling well. I want to apologise to all the amazing fans. I didn't want to end it this way. Hopefully I'll see everyone next year."
The win extends Djokovic's remarkable unbeaten run in Beijing and gives him the 102nd title of his career.
Alcaraz defends Japan Open crown
On the same day, Carlos Alcaraz started slowly before quickly overcoming unseeded Czech Jiri Lehecka 7-6(4), 6-4 in the Japan Open final. It was Alcaraz's third ATP 500 title of the year, following the Australian Open and Qatar Open, before the 23-year-old was sidelined for nearly five months by injury and returned at the US Open in late August.
"I'm very happy to be able to lift the trophy again. It's been a while and obviously this is even more special after my injury and my comeback, in only the second tournament I've played," Alcaraz said. "It was a really tough week and I wasn't playing at my best, but I found good solutions and that's the most important thing."
With the win, Alcaraz becomes the first men's player to win Tokyo in back-to-back years since American Pete Sampras triumphed in 1993 and 1994. The world No 3 started shakily by dropping his first service game, but quickly regained his rhythm and raised his intensity to break world No 19 Lehecka with a powerful backhand, levelling at 3-3. Uncharacteristic errors from Alcaraz continued to give Lehecka hope in the tie-break, but the Spaniard produced a superb drop shot to close out the first set, setting the stage for the 27th title of his career.
Alcaraz says he 'believed' in himself
The seven-time Grand Slam champion controlled proceedings from the middle of the second set, breaking serve to lead 4-3 before sealing the match by forcing an error on match point and celebrating wildly with his team at courtside.
Alcaraz said the win helped dispel the doubts he faced during his injury layoff. "A lot of negative thoughts come into your head. Whether you can come back healthy, come back like before, whether I can hit the ball normally without pain. I believed in myself and it worked," Alcaraz added.
Alcaraz will return to action at the Shanghai Masters, where he will face Argentina's Juan Manuel Cerundolo or a qualifier in the first round. Main-draw play at the ATP 1000 event begins on Wednesday.
