Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev accidentally hit a spectator with a ball during his semifinal match against Novak Djokovic at the China Open in Beijing, resulting in his disqualification. The incident occurred as Djokovic was serving for the match, with Medvedev hitting the ball out of frustration into the stands. Medvedev expressed regret for the unintended harm caused to the spectator and hoped for his well-being.
The spectator, who held his left eye in pain, was assisted from his seat while Medvedev remained on the court. Medvedev clarified that the ball bounced back towards him, leading to his hasty backhand shot that hit the spectator. Despite the accident, Medvedev emphasized that it was not an intentional act of anger.
Following the disqualification, Medvedev accepted the decision without much protest and shook hands with Djokovic, who expressed sympathy for both the spectator and Medvedev. Djokovic, with a perfect record at the China Open, advanced to the final, where he will face Alex de Minaur. De Minaur reached the final after Hubert Hurkacz retired due to an injury during their semifinal match.
This incident brought back memories of Djokovic’s disqualification from the 2020 U.S. Open for accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball. Meanwhile, Medvedev has faced previous fines for unsportsmanlike conduct on the court.
In another event, Carlos Alcaraz is set to compete in the Japan Open final after defeating Jaume Munar in the semifinals. Alcaraz, who returned from a wrist injury, aims to win the title against Jiri Lehecka. The victory would mark Alcaraz’s first final appearance since his injury layoff.
Elena Rybakina, the U.S. Open champion, withdrew from the Wuhan Open due to a foot injury following her defeat in Beijing. Despite losing her No. 1 ranking, Rybakina plans to rest and recover from her injury setback. The Wuhan Open saw Alina Charaeva continue her impressive form by advancing to the last 16.