China Open: Daniil Medvedev Disqualified Against Novak Djokovic After Hitting Ball Into Stands

Beijing, October 5: 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.

The incident occurred with Djokovic serving for the match at 7-5, 5-3. Medvedev appeared frustrated before hitting the ball into the crowd, where it struck a spectator in the front row. The spectator was subsequently helped out of the arena while holding a hand over his left eye.

The incident evoked memories of Djokovic's controversial disqualification from the 2020 US Open. The Serbian was defaulted from his fourth-round match after accidentally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball.

Djokovic, meanwhile, extended his perfect record at the China Open to 33-0 and advanced to Tuesday's final. He will face ninth-ranked Alex de Minaur, who reached the title clash after Hubert Hurkacz retired with an apparent injury.

De Minaur was leading 6-4, 3-2 when Hurkacz stopped playing after appearing to struggle with his movement during the second set. The exact nature of the Polish player's injury was not immediately clear.

In the women's tournament, six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek staged a comeback against Donna Vekic, winning 4-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2 to reach the last 16. Swiatek will next meet Iva Jovic, who defeated Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 7-5.

Elina Svitolina also progressed with a 6-4, 7-5 victory over Maria Sakkari. Coco Gauff was later scheduled to face 16-year-old Chinese wild card Sun Xinran, the reigning US Open junior champion.

Meanwhile, US Open champion Elena Rybakina withdrew from the upcoming Wuhan Open due to a foot injury. Rybakina had suffered a surprise second-round defeat in Beijing to world No. 118 Alina Charaeva, who continued her impressive run by beating Sonay Kartal 6-4, 6-1 to reach the last 16.