Daniil Medvedev Disqualified Against Novak Djokovic at China Open After Hitting Ball Into Crowd
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified during his semifinal match against Novak Djokovic at the China Open in Beijing, after striking a tennis ball into the stands and hitting a spectator. At the time of the incident, Djokovic held a 7:5, 5:3 lead.
The sequence began when Djokovic secured a point with a powerful forehand volley. The ball zipped past Medvedev and rebounded off the court’s side advertising banner. Medvedev swung his racquet hard at the loose ball, launching it directly into the audience. A male spectator seated in the crowd was struck, showing visible pain before a companion escorted him away from the stadium seating.
Medvedev offered a brief wave of his hand in acknowledgment, failing to grasp the gravity of the situation initially. The tournament supervisor quickly rushed onto the court. Following a brief discussion with officials, Medvedev was ordered to pack his equipment and default the match.
Financial and Ranking Penalties Impose Heavy Toll on Medvedev
The disqualification carries immediate disciplinary consequences. Tournament officials stripped Medvedev of all prize money and ranking points earned during his run in Beijing. The penalty amounts to $219,295 in prize money alongside 200 ranking points, delivering a setback to his pursuit of qualification for the ATP Finals.
Following the conclusion of the match, Medvedev offered a public apology to the injured fan. He insisted to reporters that the incident was “100 percent an accident.”
Medvedev is regarded as a scandal professional in the scene, having repeatedly violated rules due to his outbursts.
Djokovic Draws Parallels to His 2020 US Open Default
Novak Djokovic admitted the sudden end to the semifinal came as a surprise while expressing sympathy for both the injured spectator and his opponent. Addressing the media after advancing to the final, Djokovic recounted his reaction to the chaotic scene on the court.
“It is a small shock, I must honestly say. I feel sorry for the person. I didn’t really see it, but I really hope the person is not seriously injured,” Djokovic said. The Serbian star recognized the parallels to his own default at the 2020 US Open.
“On the other hand, I also feel sorry for Daniil. I know exactly how it feels. It is very similar circumstances. I am 100 percent sure that Daniil never did that on purpose,” Djokovic added.
China Open Final Set Against Alex de Minaur
With the victory, Djokovic extended his undefeated streak at the Beijing ATP 500 tournament to 33 matches, punching his ticket to the championship match for the seventh time. Djokovic captured the title in each of his six previous appearances at the venue, entering the week with a 29:0 match record in the Chinese capital.
To reach the semifinal stage, Djokovic engineered a comeback victory in the quarterfinals against top-seeded Alexander Zverev, overcoming a first-set deficit to triumph 4:6, 6:4, 6:4.
Djokovic advances to face Alex de Minaur in the singles final. De Minaur booked his place in the title match after benefiting from a mid-match retirement by Hubert Hurkacz, who withdrew while trailing 6:4, 3:2.
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