Medvedev's China Open Ends in Default After Accidentally Hitting Spectator in Face During Match With Djokovic

Daniil Medvedev's China Open campaign ended in a default after a ball he struck accidentally hit a spectator in the face during his semi-final against Novak Djokovic in Beijing. Medvedev was trailing 7-5, 5-3 when the incident happened, leaving Djokovic three points from reaching the final. The match had already lasted almost two and a half hours.

Djokovic was serving for the match when he hit a forehand volley winner to make the score 15-15. The ball bounced off the advertising wall behind the court.

As the ball came back towards him, Medvedev swiped at it with his backhand. The ball flew into the front row and struck a male spectator near his left eye.

Medvedev immediately raised his left hand in apology. The spectator doubled over while holding his face and was treated by medical staff before being helped from the arena.

Officials consulted on court before deciding to default Medvedev. The Russian did not challenge the decision and walked to the net to shake hands with Djokovic.

Tournament organisers later said the man had been taken to hospital. They did not provide further details about his condition.

ATP Rules Allow Default for Dangerous Shots

Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP tournament supervisor spoke with Medvedev before the decision was made.

Under ATP conduct rules, a player can be defaulted when a ball is hit recklessly or carelessly and strikes and injures a spectator or court official. The rule does not require the player to have intended to cause harm.

Medvedev forfeited the ranking points and prize money he had earned at the tournament. He later described the incident as a '100 per cent accident', saying he struck the ball as it rebounded from the wall and had not intended to hit anyone.

Medvedev acknowledged his history of losing his temper on court but said hitting balls at people was not something he normally did. He said he wanted to contact the spectator, apologise personally and find out whether he was alright.

The incident came after another disciplinary issue earlier this year, when Medvedev was fined €6,000 at the Monte Carlo Masters for unsportsmanlike conduct after smashing his racket seven times during a heavy defeat by Matteo Berrettini.

Djokovic Recalls His Own US Open Default

Djokovic said he understood Medvedev's situation, having experienced a similar penalty himself. The Serbian was defaulted from the 2020 US Open after accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball in the throat. Djokovic said he believed there had been no bad intent from Medvedev and hoped the spectator was not seriously hurt.

The result extended Djokovic's unbeaten record at the China Open to 33-0. He had won six titles in six visits between 2009 and 2015 before returning this year after an 11-year absence.

Djokovic saved 16 of 18 break points during the match, while Medvedev converted two. Both players had described the slow court as producing long baseline exchanges.

Djokovic will now face Alex de Minaur in the final. De Minaur advanced after Hubert Hurkacz retired with an adductor injury while trailing 6-4, 3-2. Djokovic has won three of his four previous meetings with de Minaur and is bidding for a seventh China Open title and the 102nd title of his career.