Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his Beijing semi-final against Novak Djokovic after hitting a rebounding ball into the crowd and striking a spectator in the eye.
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open semi-final in Beijing on 5 October after he hit a ball into the stands and struck a spectator. Reuters said he was trailing Novak Djokovic 7-5, 5-3 when he hit a ball coming off the wall into the crowd.
The spectator, seated in the front row, clutched his left eye and was helped out by stadium staff. BBC Sport said Djokovic had just hit a winner to 15-15 in the game and that Medvedev swiped at a backhand in annoyance, sending the ball into the stand.
Medvedev did not protest the umpire's decision. Reuters said he will lose ranking points and prize money from the tournament. He told reporters he was terribly sorry and was trying to contact the spectator to apologise in person.
Djokovic, who was defaulted from the 2020 US Open in a similar incident, said he hoped the person was not badly injured and that he felt sorry for Medvedev. The other semi-final was also unfinished after Hubert Hurkacz retired against Alex de Minaur.
Organisers had not published a medical update on the spectator in the reports reviewed.
People Sentiments Negative
- Medvedev said he was terribly sorry and hoped the spectator was okay
- Djokovic said he hoped the fan was not badly injured and felt sorry for Medvedev