Sports05 October, 20262 min read
Daniil Medvedev Disqualified From China Open Semi After Hitting Spectator With Ball
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Medvedev disqualified from the China Open semifinal after hitting a spectator in the eye. Incident occurred while trailing 7-5, 5-3 with a rebounded ball off the wall.
Medvedev defaulted in Beijing
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semifinal against Novak Djokovic after Medvedev hit a ball into the stands that struck a spectator in the eye. Reuters said the ball struck a spectator in the eye and that Medvedev was trailing 7-5 5-3 when the incident happened. The BBC described the ball ricocheting off the back of the court and Medvedev swiping at a backhand in annoyance, sending the ball into the air and hitting a spectator sitting in the front row behind him.
Medvedev told reporters, "Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all," and he said, "I'm trying to get in touch with him, if he wants it." Djokovic then advanced to the final after both semifinals ended prematurely in Beijing, with Hubert Hurkacz retiring with an adductor injury and Alex de Minaur leading 6-4 3-2 when Hurkacz stopped playing.
Apologies and Djokovic reaction
Medvedev told reporters, "Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all," and he added, "Hopefully I can apologise in person and see how he feels." Djokovic said, "I hope that person is not badly injured," and Djokovic also said, "I also feel sorry for Daniil because I know exactly how it feels to be disqualified in a big match." The BBC reported that after speaking with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP official, Medvedev approached the net to shake hands with Djokovic.
Al Jazeera said the chair umpire and tournament supervisor came down onto the court to talk to Medvedev, and Medvedev did not appear to put up much of an argument with the disqualification. Djokovic extended his perfect China Open record to 33-0, and Djokovic said, "We move on" after the default ended the semifinal at the 2-hour, 29-minute mark.
Final set for Tuesday
Djokovic will face Alex de Minaur in Tuesday's final after de Minaur advanced when Hubert Hurkacz retired due to an apparent injury midway through the second set. The BBC said Djokovic will go on to play Alex de Minaur in Tuesday's final and noted Djokovic saved 16 of the 18 break points he faced. ABC News & Headlines said De Minaur will face Djokovic in the final on Tuesday night after Hurkacz was forced to retire due to injury.
“De Minaur will face Djokovic in the final on Tuesday night.”
Medvedev's disqualification meant Medvedev would lose the points and prize money from his run to the semifinal, and Reuters said Medvedev will lose his points and prize money from the tournament as a result of the default. Djokovic, who was leading 7-5 5-3 when Medvedev was defaulted, said, "It was a gruelling battle ... it always is a big battle with Daniil" as Djokovic prepared to chase another China Open title.