BEIJING — Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his semifinal against Novak Djokovic at the China Open after he hit a ball into the stands that struck a spectator in the front row on Monday.
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.
The incident was reminiscent of when Djokovic was kicked out of the 2020 U.S. Open for accidentally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball.
“I’m in a bit of shock. I feel sorry for the person, hope they’re not injured,” Djokovic said, per Kalshi Tennis. “I also feel for Daniil because I know exactly what it feels like to be disqualified for this. I was defaulted at the 2020 U.S. Open. I was three points from the win, an incredible battle today.”
Djokovic extended his perfect career record at the China Open to 33-0.
In Tuesday’s final, Djokovic will face ninth-ranked Alex de Minaur, who advanced when Hubert Hurkacz retired due to an apparent injury midway through the second set of their semifinal.
De Minaur led 6-4, 3-2 when Hurkacz — who was barely able to run for balls in the second set — stopped playing.
The nature of Hurkacz’s injury was not immediately clear.
In the third round of the women’s tournament, which ends Sunday, six-time Grand Slam champion Iga Swiatek rallied past Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6 (0), 6-2 and will next meet Iva Jovic, who beat Kamilla Rakhimova 6-1, 7-5.
Elina Svitolina beat Maria Sakkari 6-4, 7-5.
Later, Coco Gauff was playing 16-year-old Chinese wild card Sun Xinran, who recently won the U.S. Open junior title.
