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Sport

Daniil Medvedev defaulted after striking spectator with ball as Djokovic reaches China Open final

Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic in Beijing after hitting a spectator in the face with a ball, sending the 33-0 six-time champion into a seventh final.

By Tom Ellery · · 1 min read

Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from the China Open semi-final in Beijing on Monday after striking a spectator in the face with a ball, handing Novak Djokovic a 33rd straight win at the tournament and a place in Tuesday’s final.

Djokovic, the six-time champion, was leading 7-5, 5-3 when the incident occurred. After Djokovic’s winner bounced off the back wall and into the air, Medvedev whacked the ball into the stands in frustration, and it struck a spectator in the front row. The man covered his face in anguish and was escorted out of the venue for treatment, whereupon the umpire and tournament director had no choice but to disqualify the Russian.

Djokovic had saved 16 of the 18 break points he faced in a two-hour, 26-minute contest and said afterwards: “It’s a bit of a shock to be honest. I hope that person is not badly injured. I also feel sorry for Daniil. I know exactly how he feels to be disqualified in a big match” — a reference to Djokovic’s own default at the 2020 US Open for striking a line judge with a ball.

Under the rules, Medvedev loses all ranking points and prize money earned at the event — 200 points and around £166,000. Medvedev has issued an apology, saying he feels “terribly sorry”.

Djokovic, 39, will meet Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the final, seeking a 102nd career ATP title. De Minaur was leading Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 3-2 in the other semi-final when the Pole retired with injury.

Sources:

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