The incident occurred in the second set while Medvedev was trailing 7-5, 5-3 and facing a deficit of 15-15 with Djokovic serving for the match. Following a lengthy rally won by Djokovic, Medvedev swung at a ball that deflected off a rear wall, sending it directly into the stands where it struck a spectator in the face, as reported by the Mirror.
Tournament medics immediately rushed to attend to the injured fan, who was subsequently ushered out of the arena for further medical evaluation, according to tournament organizers cited by Sky Sports. Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani consulted with officials before formally defaulting Medvedev, forfeiting all prize money and ranking points earned from the Beijing event.
High-Stakes Battle and Historic Records
Before the abrupt conclusion, the semi-final encounter was marked by intense competition lasting nearly two and a half hours. Djokovic successfully warded off 16 of the 18 break points he faced throughout the grueling contest, maintaining his composure under pressure while Medvedev applied consistent pressure from the baseline.
With the default victory, Djokovic extended his flawless career record at the Beijing tournament to 33-0, maintaining a pristine streak that spans his six prior titles in the Chinese capital between 2009 and 2015. The result also propels the 39-year-old Serbian star into his 146th career tour-level final, where he is scheduled to face Alex de Minaur for what could be his 102nd career title, according to ClutchPoints.
Reactions and Shared History
Reflecting on the unusual finish, Djokovic expressed immediate concern for the injured spectator while drawing comparisons to his own high-profile disqualification at the 2020 US Open, where he was defaulted for inadvertently striking a line judge.
“I am a bit shocked, to be honest,” Djokovic said, as reported by ClutchPoints. “I’m sorry for the person. I hope he is not injured. I feel sorry for Daniil as well because I know exactly what it feels to be disqualified in a match for this.”
Medvedev offered a full apology following the match, emphasizing that the incident was entirely unintentional and expressing his desire to contact the injured fan directly.
“Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all, I’m trying to get in touch with him, if he wants it,” Medvedev told reporters, according to Sky Sports. “It was 100 per cent accident. You can see I didn’t hit the ball in anger. I do a lot of bad things, but usually ball abuse is not my thing. When I saw the result, I felt horrible.”
Consequences for the ATP Race
The disqualification carries immediate implications for Medvedev’s standing on the ATP Tour. As a result of the default, the 2021 US Open champion forfeits all accumulated ranking points and financial earnings from the tournament. Currently occupying the eighth and final qualifying position in the Race to the ATP Finals, the loss of potential ranking points threatens to complicate his bid to secure a season-ending championship berth.
Reporting source: skysports.com.