Daniil Medvedev was defaulted for hitting a spectator in the face with a ball during his semi-final against Novak Djokovic at the China Open, handing the six-time champion a walkover into Tuesday’s final. The incident happened in Beijing on Monday, with Medvedev trailing 7-5 5-3 and three points from defeat when the ball struck the fan around the left eye.
The Russian president offered an immediate apology, describing the blow as a “100 per cent accident”, and explained that he did not strike the ball out of anger. He will forfeit every point and all prize money from the tournament. The audience member who was struck was assisted from the arena and transported to hospital.
The Moment That Changed The Match
A winner from Djokovic sent the ball deflecting off a wall, which caused Medvedev’s return to strike the stands. Djokovic had defended with great determination throughout the contest, saving 16 of the 18 break points he faced, yet his efforts seemed for nothing.
Medvedev explained that he was simply trying to clear the ball from the court. “The ball was bouncing back so I tried to just hit it anywhere so it doesn’t go out from the court,” he said.
Medvedev’s Apology
After the default was made public, Medvedev addressed reporters and offered a direct apology to the fan whose eye was struck.
The man expressed deep regret and asked whether the spectator would like him to contact him. He hoped to make an apology in person and stated that his primary worry was the man’s wellbeing.
He added this: “When I saw the result, I felt horrible. Hopefully I can meet him and make up for it somehow.”.
Djokovic’s Reaction
The player who was cut from the US Open for striking a line judge with a ball has shown kindness toward the person struck in Beijing. Djokovic was the one defaulted at the 2020 tournament for that act, and now he has spoken up on behalf of the man who was hit during the Beijing event.
“It is a bit of a shock, to be honest. I am sorry for the person,” Djokovic said. “I hope the person is not badly injured. I also feel sorry for Daniil as I know exactly how it feels to be disqualified in a big match. I’m sure he didn’t want to do this intentionally.”
The Serb, 39, has now reached the final in Beijing. He will meet Alex de Minaur in Tuesday’s final, having secured a come-from-behind quarter-final victory over world No 2 Alexander Zverev on Sunday.
Djokovic’s Road To The Final
Between 2009 and 2015, Djokovic captured the China Open title six times in seven seasons before choosing not to return until this year’s run. His road to the final featured a tight contest against Zverev, which Djokovic claimed despite falling behind early in the match.
Djokovic has a chance to increase his total of 100-plus career titles with the final ahead of him. He secured the Hellenic Championship just over a year back, and this current run has brought him back into the world’s top 10, having fallen out of it earlier in the year.
The Women’s Draw
In the women’s event, Britain’s Sonay Kartal saw her WTA Tour comeback end in the third round with a 6-4 6-1 loss to Alina Charaeva. Kartal, who picked up wins over Andrea Lazaro Garcia and Wang Xinyu before her exit, had returned to competition after a stress fracture of the back.
Before this tournament, Charaeva had already defeated world No 1 Elena Rybakina in the earlier round, and Rybakina has now pulled out of the Wuhan Open because of a foot injury. “I’ll take some time to rest and recover,” Rybakina was quoted as saying by Wuhan Open organisers.
Other Matches On The Day
Iga Swiatek reached the fourth round after rallying from a set and 5-2 down to beat Donna Vekic 4-6 7-6 (7-0) 6-2. Coco Gauff also advanced to the last 16 as she brushed aside Xinran Sun 7-5 6-1.
Alcaraz trailed in the Japan Open semifinal against Spanish compatriot Jaume Munar before turning things around, eventually prevailing 5-7 6-3 6-1 to reach his first final since April’s Monte-Carlo Masters. He held a 5-3 lead in the opening set, yet then yielded 16 consecutive points before the pair exchanged breaks at the beginning of the second set.
“I don’t know what happened in the first set. It seems that I’m struggling in every first set, but I’ve come back every time and I’m really happy about it,” Alcaraz said.
What Happens Next
The last match of Tuesday’s ATP Japan Open and ATP China Open will see Djokovic face de Minaur in Beijing and Alcaraz take on Jiri Lehecka in Tokyo. Both contests will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports Main Event from 10am.
A wrist injury has kept Alcaraz from defending his French Open title and from playing Wimbledon. Before the US Open, he reached the quarter-finals there, where he lost in five sets to Ben Shelton. A title in Japan would give him his third of the season, following the Australian Open and the Qatar Open.
| Match | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|
| China Open semi-final | Djokovic | Walkover |
| Japan Open semi-final | Alcaraz | 5-7 6-3 6-1 |
| China Open final | Djokovic vs de Minaur | To be decided |
| Japan Open final | Alcaraz vs Lehecka | To be decided |
Key Facts Box
- Medvedev: Defaulted for hitting spectator in face with ball; loses all points and prize money
- Djokovic: 33-0 in Beijing; 100-plus career titles
- Alcaraz: Lost 16 points in a row in Japan Open semi-final
- Rybakina: Withdraws from Wuhan Open due to foot injury
- Beijing final: Djokovic vs de Minaur; live on Sky Sports from 10am
The man struck by the ball is still in hospital, and there is no word yet on the severity of his injuries. Medvedev offered an immediate and sincere apology, yet the default remains a harsh punishment for a player who has apologised repeatedly for the accident.
Djokovic’s path to the final has been unusually smooth, and he will enter Tuesday’s match with the weight of a perfect Beijing record behind him.
Source material: “Medvedev defaulted for hitting spectator with ball in defeat to Djokovic,” Sky Sports.
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