Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev accidentally hit a spectator with a ball during his semifinal match against Novak Djokovic at the China Open in Beijing. The incident occurred when Medvedev struck the ball in apparent frustration, causing it to bounce into the stands and hit the spectator in the eye.
Expressing regret for the incident, Medvedev stated, “I feel terribly sorry for him actually and I just hope he’s OK. Hopefully I can meet him and make up for it somehow.” The match was in progress with Djokovic leading when the incident took place, leading to Medvedev’s disqualification.
Acknowledging that it was unintentional, Medvedev explained, “It was 100 per cent an accident. … The ball was bouncing back, so I tried to just hit it anywhere, so it wouldn’t go out of the court.” Despite immediately showing remorse by waving an apology, Medvedev was ultimately disqualified from the match.
Novak Djokovic, who was serving for the match at the time, expressed surprise at the turn of events and emphasized that he believed it was unintentional. This incident added to Medvedev’s history of on-court behavior issues, including a previous fine for unsportsmanlike conduct earlier in the year.
In a separate match, Djokovic continued his unbeaten record at the China Open, setting up a final against Alex de Minaur. Djokovic, aiming for his seventh China Open title, faced de Minaur after the latter advanced due to a retirement in the semifinals.
Meanwhile, in the Japan Open, Carlos Alcaraz overcame a tough challenge to reach the final against Jiri Lehecka. Alcaraz, who recently returned from a wrist injury, displayed resilience in his semifinal victory. The upcoming final will be a significant moment for Alcaraz as he aims to defend his title.
Additionally, U.S. Open champion Elena Rybakina withdrew from the Wuhan Open due to a foot injury following an early exit at the China Open. Rybakina’s defeat in Beijing marked the end of her short-lived stint as the top-ranked player, with Alina Charaeva continuing her impressive run in the tournament.