Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev accidentally struck a spectator with a ball during his semifinal match against Novak Djokovic at the China Open in Beijing, leading to his disqualification. The spectator was seen holding his left eye after being hit by the ball as Medvedev expressed remorse and hoped for the spectator’s well-being. The incident occurred while Djokovic was serving for the match, and Medvedev hit the ball into the stands in frustration.
Medvedev clarified that hitting the spectator was unintentional and that he was trying to prevent the ball from going out of the court. Despite the accident, Medvedev immediately showed regret by waving his hand in apology. Following discussions with the chair umpire and tournament supervisor, Medvedev accepted the disqualification without much objection and shook hands with Djokovic.
This incident brought back memories of Djokovic’s disqualification from the 2020 U.S. Open for inadvertently hitting a line judge with a ball. Djokovic expressed sympathy for both the spectator and Medvedev, understanding the disappointment of being disqualified from a significant match.
On the other hand, Djokovic continued his dominance at the China Open with a perfect career record of 33-0, aiming for his seventh title in the upcoming final against Alex de Minaur. De Minaur advanced to the final after Hubert Hurkacz retired from their semifinal due to an injury. Djokovic, currently ranked No. 11, faced challenges during the match, including time violations, but managed to secure victory.
In a separate event, Carlos Alcaraz made a strong comeback from a wrist injury, reaching the Japan Open final where he will compete against Jiri Lehecka. Alcaraz, coming back from a layoff, displayed resilience in his semifinal win after a shaky start. The young player is eager to defend his title in Tokyo.
Meanwhile, U.S. Open champion Elena Rybakina withdrew from the Wuhan Open due to a foot injury following her unexpected defeat in Beijing. Rybakina will take time to recover from the injury, while her conqueror, Alina Charaeva, continued her impressive run in the tournament.