Novak Djokovic Reaches China Open Final After Medvedev Disqualified

Novak Djokovic reached the China Open final on Monday, but the semifinal ended in a way nobody inside the Beijing arena would have expected.

Daniil Medvedev was disqualified late in the second set after a ball he struck into the stands hit a spectator. Djokovic was leading 7-5, 5-3 and serving for the match when the incident brought the contest to an abrupt end.

The moment came after Djokovic won a point and the ball rebounded off the back of the court. Medvedev moved to play the loose ball with a backhand, sending it high towards the stands behind his side of the court. It struck a spectator in the front row around the eye.

The man immediately covered his face and was helped away by stadium staff. The chair umpire stopped play before Medvedev spoke with officials and accepted the decision to default him. 

Medvedev later apologised and stressed that the incident was accidental.

“Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all,” he said, explaining that he was trying to keep the rebounding ball from going out of the court. He also said he hoped to apologise to the fan personally. 

Djokovic was sympathetic. The Serbian admitted he had not seen exactly what happened but said he was sure Medvedev had not intended to hit anyone.

There was another reason the incident would have felt particularly familiar to Djokovic. He was disqualified from the 2020 US Open after accidentally striking a line judge with a ball during his fourth-round match against Pablo Carreno Busta.

This time, Djokovic advanced, taking his China Open record to 33-0 and moving within one victory of another title in Beijing, adding another chapter to the legacy built throughout his career. The 39-year-old had been made to work hard before the unexpected ending, saving 16 of the 18 break points he faced during the semifinal. 

The Serbian had looked physically drained at times during the long rallies, while Medvedev kept asking questions from the baseline. Djokovic eventually gained control in the second set and was only three points from completing the victory when the match disappeared from his hands.

He will now meet Alex de Minaur in Tuesday's final. The Australian reached the title match after Hubert Hurkacz retired with an adductor injury while trailing 6-4, 3-2. 

For Djokovic, the Novak Djokovic China Open final appearance offers another chance to add to his record in Beijing. For Medvedev, the tournament ended with a painful and unusual exit, even though he had been locked in a competitive semifinal against one of the sport's biggest names.

The women's draw also produced several notable results. Coco Gauff defeated Chinese teenager Sun Xinran 7-5, 6-1 to set up a meeting with Elise Mertens in the last 16.

Former world No. 1 Iga Swiatek fought back from a set down to beat Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2. Swiatek will next face American teenager Iva Jovic.

China's Zheng Qinwen also survived another three-set battle, edging Marie Bouzkova 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-5. Zheng, who had already spent more than five hours on court in her opening two rounds, will face Alina Charaeva next.

The day's biggest talking point, though, remained the Daniil Medvedev disqualified moment that suddenly sent Djokovic into the Beijing final.