( CNN ) -- Novak Djokovic may have surrendered his No . 1 ranking to Rafael Nadal , but he was not about to tighten his grip on the China Open title . Nadal ended the Serbian 's 11-month reign at the top by reaching Sunday 's final , but could not stop Djokovic winning in Beijing for the fourth time in five years . `` I needed this win today . I really wanted to get my hands on the trophy and win against Nadal , who has been the best player so far in 2013 , '' the 26-year-old said . `` It 's very important for my confidence . It 's very important mentally and emotionally for me . '' Djokovic has yet to taste defeat at the tournament , having not taken part in 2011 due to injury . `` I still have n't lost a match here . I just love the conditions , '' he said . `` I love the court and the atmosphere that goes around the tournament . Center court is exceptional , and I enjoy it . I try to cherish every moment that I spend here every year . '' Djokovic is still hoping to be the ATP Tour 's year-end No . 1 for the third successive time , but he faces a tough task to displace Nadal -- who has won two grand slams this year after returning from long-term knee problems in February . Nadal had been on a 22-match winning streak since his shock first-round defeat at Wimbledon , and had beaten Djokovic three times in a row including last month 's U.S. Open final to take his career advantage to 22-15 . `` I did n't see the way to stop him this afternoon , '' the 13-time grand slam champion said . `` He was too strong for me . I did n't play my best match , but he played at a very high level with his serve . `` I was not able to have any chance when I was returning during the whole match . He had the ball staying very low . It was very difficult to create spin on this ball . He was able to hit all the balls where he wanted . When that 's happening against a player like Novak , you are dead . You do n't have one chance . '' Both players will next move on to Shanghai , where Djokovic will be defending his Masters title -- if he can not then Nadal could take advantage and move further ahead in the standings , having not played there last year . Roger Federer also returns to action , with the former world No . 1 needing points to ensure his participation at the season-ending championships in London next month . Serena Williams , meanwhile , will be taking a break ahead of the WTA Championships in Istanbul , having won the 56th title of her career in Beijing on Sunday and her 10th of this season -- the best tally since Justine Henin in 2007 . The world No . 1 crushed formerly top-ranked Jelena Jankovic 6-2 6-2 despite suffering an apparent recurrence of a back problem from earlier in the tournament . She is now seventh on the all-time WTA list , having moved above Virginia Wade and Lindsay Davenport . The American has 73 match wins this year , the best since Kim Clijsters ' 90 and Henin 's 75 in 2003 . `` I really love tennis so much and it 's fans like the ones here in China who are so exciting to come to , '' she said after her second success in Beijing -- the other being in 2004 when it moved to Beijing . `` The fans make me want to play , they 're so great here , so coming here is such a great opportunity . '' Jankovic , the only woman to play in all 10 editions of the event , was unable to repeat her 2008 success . `` Serena was just too good today , and big congratulations to her , '' said the Serbian eighth seed , who is hoping to clinch one of the remaining places for the Turkey showpiece . Last month China 's Li Na sealed the fifth of eight spots , joining Williams , Victoria Azarenka , Maria Sharapova and Agnieszka Radwanska in qualifying .
Novak Djokovic retains China Open title , beating Rafael González in Sunday 's final . Nadal had toppled Murray from world No . 1 ranking by winning the title match . Djokovic gets revenge for his defeat by Murray in last year 's U.S. Open final . Serena Williams wins 56th title of her career , beating Andrea Jankovic in women 's final .