Novak Djokovic reached the final of the China Open on Monday after Daniil Medvedev was disqualified in their semifinal match in Beijing. The incident occurred in the second set when a ball struck by Medvedev unintentionally hit a spectator seated behind his side of the court. The man was seen holding his face before being escorted from the venue as Djokovic was serving for the match with the score at 7-5, 5-3.
Medvedev, ranked seventh in the world, had hit a backhand stroke toward the edge of the stands following a missed point, prompting the chair umpire to halt play and ultimately disqualify the Russian player. Medvedev expressed regret after the match, calling the incident “100 percent an accident” and apologizing to the injured fan, saying he wished to do so in person.
Djokovic, currently ranked eleventh, praised the quality of the contest and dismissed any notion of intentional harm. “I’m sure that Daniil didn’t... do it intentionally. It happened by accident,” the Serbian said, describing the match as physically demanding. The 39-year-old displayed resilience, saving 16 break points and engaging in intense rallies before gaining control in the second set.
Djokovic will face world number nine Alex de Minaur in the final on Tuesday. De Minaur advanced after his semifinal opponent, Hubert Hurkacz of Poland, retired due to an abductor strain.
In the women’s draw, former world number one Iga Swiatek advanced to the round of 16 with a hard-fought victory over Croatia’s Donna Vekic. Swiatek recovered from a set down and saved a set point during a crucial tie-break, eventually winning 4-6, 7-6 (7-0), 6-2. The 25-year-old Polish player said she managed her frustration by adjusting her approach and looking to play with less pressure. Swiatek’s next opponent will be American teenager Iva Jovic.
China’s Zheng Qinwen also progressed after defeating Czech player Marie Bouzkova in another three-set match, 7-6 (7-3), 4-6, 7-5. Zheng, currently ranked 54th, endured her third three-setter of the tournament and acknowledged the physical and mental challenges she faced, including distractions from movement outside the court. She credited her fans for their support and said she “gave everything” during the contest. Zheng will next face Alina Charaeva, who upset top seed Elena Rybakina in the second round.
Additionally, Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova won her match and will meet Ekaterina Alexandrova in the last 16 stage.