Medvedev disqualified after hitting spectator with ball; Djokovic ‘shocked’ - Watch
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open semifinal after accidentally hitting a spectator with a ball. Novak Djokovic, who advanced to the final, expressed sympathy for the situation, noting his own similar experience in 2020.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the strict enforcement of safety rules in professional tennis and the psychological impact of such disqualifications on high-profile athletes.
Daniil Medvedev’s China Open campaign ended in extraordinary fashion on Monday when the Russian was disqualified from his semifinal against Novak Djokovic after hitting a rebounding ball into the crowd that struck a spectator in the eye.Medvedev was trailing Djokovic 5-7, 3-5 when the incident occurred. After losing a point, he struck the ball as it came back off the wall, sending it into the stands behind him.The ball hit a spectator sitting in the first row in the eye. The fan immediately clutched his left eye and appeared to be in pain before being helped out of the gallery by stadium staff.The dramatic incident brought an abrupt end to a hard-fought semifinal, with Djokovic advancing to the China Open final.
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