20 years since Beijing’s bow! Champions in the Chinese capital

For the past 20 years, Beijing has been home to the China Open, an outdoor hard-court tournament that has attracted some of the ATP Tour's biggest names.

The ATP 500, which has been a combined event since its inception in 2004 after the WTA Tour moved its WTA 1000 from Shanghai, has been won by a host of notable champions, including Marat Safin, Rafael Nadal, Andy Roddick, Novak Djokovic, Andy Murray, and most recently, Jannik Sinner.

Ahead of the 20th anniversary edition of the event, ATPTour.com looks back on some of the men's singles champions in Beijing.

2004: Safin, Beijing’s First Champion
There can hardly have been a more emphatic first champion in Beijing than Safin. The former No. 1 in the PIF ATP Rankings competed as the fifth seed in the inaugural edition of the ATP 500 and he did not drop a set all week.

Safin’s dominance in the Chinese capital kick-started a red-hot run on the hard courts. He won ATP Masters 1000 events in Madrid and Paris later that year, before lifting his second Grand Slam title at the 2005 Australian Open.

Marat Safin lifts the trophy at the inaugural China Open in 2004. Goh Chai Hin/AFP via Getty Images

2005 & 2017: Nadal Bookends in Beijing
Nadal won the Beijing title on his both his event debut in 2005 and his most recent appearance there in 2017. He defeated Juan Carlos Ferrero and Guillermo Coria en route to the 2005 crown, a title run that in came in the midst of his stunning breakout season during which he won 11 tour-level titles overall.

Twelve years later, in 2017, the Spaniard triumphed in Beijing once again, despite facing two match points in his first-round match against former World No. 10 Lucas Pouille. Nadal defeated three opponents from the Top 20 of the PIF ATP Rankings — John Isner, Grigor Dimitrov and Nick Kyrgios — to cap his run in the Chinese capital.

"It is an important title for me," said Nadal after his 2017 triumph. "The last year that I had the trophy with me was in 2005. In 2005 I never would have believed that I will keep playing tennis in 2017... I'm very happy."

Rafael Nadal wins the 2017 Beijing title. Photo Credit: Etienne Oliveau/Getty Images

2008: Roddick, Beijing’s Only American Winner
In 2008, Andy Roddick achieved history by becoming the first and only American to raise a title at the China Open.

The 2003 US Open champion lifted his fifth and final ATP 500 title in Beijing, where he defeated his fellow former World No. 1 Ferrero in the quarter-finals and Dudi Sela in the championship match.

Andy Roddick in action during the 2008 Beijing championship match. Photo Credit: Andrew Wong/Getty Images

2009-10, 2012-15: The Djokovic Dynasty in Beijing
Novak Djokovic has become synonymous with Beijing’s tournament. The Serbian holds a 29-0 record at the ATP 500.

In 2009, the Serbian defeated Marin Cilic in straight sets to win his first China Open title. The victory over the Croatian opened the door to years of Djokovic dominance in the Chinese capital, including titles in five of the next six years (2009-10, 2012-15). The former World No. 1 has won the China Open six times, a tournament record, without dropping a single set in the final on any occasion.

"This is right at the top, one of the best achievements I've had in my career," said Djokovic prior to his 2015 championship-match clash with Nadal. "Every time I keep coming back, I have these positive, great memories from the success, the great performances I had on the centre court, support, just overall feel is very positive. I try to use that in my favour."

Novak Djokovic defeats Rafael Nadal in the 2015 China Open final. Photo Credit: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

2016: In the Midst of Murray Magic
Andy Murray arrived at Beijing in 2016 on the backdrop of a remarkable year. The Scot was in the midst of an incredible season that included becoming the first player to win back-to-back Olympic Gold medals, while also winning the Wimbledon championships and reaching two other major finals (Australian Open, French Open).

In the 2016 China Open, Murray capped off a dominant year, by defeating two former Top 10 players to win his first title at the China Open. Murray won 26 straight matches to finish the year as the ATP Year-End No. 1 presented by PIF.

Andy Murray won his sole Beijing title in 2016. Photo Credit: Emmanuel Wong/Getty Images

2023: Sinner flourishes in Beijing
One of the key moments of Jannik Sinner's breakthrough 2023 season was in Beijing, where he defeated two Top 3 players, Carlos Alcaraz and Daniil Medvedev, to lift the title. Medvedev had won all six of their previous Lexus ATP Head2Head matchups.

Sinner’s impressive form carried over to 2024, when he won his maiden major at the Australian Open before becoming the first Italian No. 1 in PIF ATP Rankings history in June.

With these historic moments in mind, the stage is set for this year's edition of the China Open, which will be played from 26 September-2 October.

Will a Chinese man break through to triumph on home soil? Zhang Zhizhen, who recently won the mixed doubles silver medal in the Paris Olympics, is the country's leading hope. Other home favourites to watch include #NextGenATP Shang Juncheng and Buyunchaokete.

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