Medvedev disqualified after ball strikes spectator at China Open
The Russian was defaulted in his semifinal against Novak Djokovic after a ball he hit into the stands struck a spectator. Djokovic advanced to the final.
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semifinal against Novak Djokovic on Monday after hitting a ball into the stands that struck a spectator in the front row. Djokovic advanced to the final.
The incident came as Djokovic served for the match at 7-5, 5-3. After a volley winner, the ball rebounded from advertising boards towards Medvedev, who struck it into the stands. The spectator was helped from the arena with a hand over their left eye. The report gave no confirmed diagnosis or indication of the injury’s severity.
Tournament officials spoke with Medvedev before the disqualification. He then shook hands with Djokovic. The match had lasted 2 hours and 29 minutes.
Djokovic said he had not seen what happened and hoped the spectator was not badly injured. He said he believed Medvedev had not acted intentionally; that was Djokovic’s assessment, and intent was not established in the report.
Djokovic was due to face Alex de Minaur in Tuesday’s final. De Minaur advanced after Hubert Hurkacz retired while trailing 6-4, 3-2. Djokovic’s record at the China Open stood at 33 wins and no losses, according to Al Jazeera.
