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. As a result, Medvedev was disqualified from the match. The incident occurred when Medvedev hit the ball into the stands out of frustration, striking the spectator in the process.
Expressing remorse for the incident, Medvedev stated that it was an unintentional accident and hoped the spectator was okay. The match was in progress, with Djokovic leading, when the incident took place. Medvedev acknowledged the mistake and accepted the disqualification without much protest.
Novak Djokovic, who went on to win the semifinal, expressed sympathy for both the spectator and Medvedev, recalling his own disqualification from the 2020 U.S. Open for a similar incident involving a line judge. Medvedev, known for his on-court behavior issues, has faced fines for unsportsmanlike conduct in the past.
In another match, Djokovic continued his unbeaten streak at the China Open, setting up a final clash with Alex de Minaur. De Minaur advanced to the final after his opponent, Hubert Hurkacz, retired due to injury. Djokovic, currently ranked outside the top 10, is aiming for his seventh China Open title.
In a separate event, Carlos Alcaraz secured a spot in the Japan Open final after defeating Jaume Munar in the semifinals. Alcaraz, who recently returned from a wrist injury, will face Jiri Lehecka in the final. Alcaraz aims to defend his title in Tokyo after a strong comeback from his injury layoff.
Additionally, U.S. Open champion Elena Rybakina withdrew from the upcoming Wuhan Open due to a foot injury. Rybakina suffered an early exit in Beijing, losing to a lower-ranked opponent. She plans to take time off to recover from her injury.