Daniil Medvedev Defaulted For Hitting Spectator In The Face With Ball As Novak Djokovic Reaches China Open Final
Serbia's Novak Djokovic reaches the China Open Final as Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the semi-final after hitting a ball that struck a spectator in the face in Beijing. The spectator was helped out of the arena, holding a hand over his left eye. Djokovic was serving for the match at 7-5, 5-3 when Medvedev hit the ball into the stands in apparent frustration. “I feel terribly sorry for him actually and I just hope he’s OK. Hopefully I can meet him and make up for it somehow," said Medvedev. "It was 100% an accident," he further added. Novak Djokovic reached his first ATP 500 championship final since 2022. He will face Alex De Minaur in the final.
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, speaks to the media after being disqualified from the men's single semi-final match against Novak Djokovic, of Serbia at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, leaves the court after being disqualified during a semi final match against Novak Djokovic, of Serbia at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, right, talks to Novak Djokovic, of Serbia after being disqualified during a semi final match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, reacts during the men's single semi-final match against Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts during the men's single semi-final match against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, returns a ball to Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during the men's single semi-final match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, returns a ball to Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, during the men's single semi-final match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. | Photo: AP/Andy Wong
Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, returns a ball to Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, during the men's single semi-final match at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
Novak Djokovic, of Serbia, reacts during the men's single semi-final match against Daniil Medvedev, of Russia, at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, Monday, Oct. 5, 2026. | Photo: AP/Achmad Ibrahim
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