The Sydney Morning Herald
· collected 2026-10-05 · by Trevor Marshallsea
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified during his semi-final match against Novak Djokovic at the China Open when he hit a spectator in the eye with a ball, causing the fan significant pain. This incident led to Alex de Minaur advancing to face Djokovic in the final after Hubert Hurkacz retired from their match due to injury while trailing 6-4, 3-2. Medvedev expressed regret over the accident but claimed it was unintentional, emphasizing his desire to apologize directly to the injured spectator.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Daniil Medvedev was defaulted during his semi-final match at the China Open against Novak Djokovic when he hit a spectator in the face with a ball, causing an eye injury. The incident occurred while trailing 7-5, 5-3; after Djokovic's winning shot, Medvedev swiped at a loose ball that had bounced off the back of the court, inadvertently striking a fan seated in the front row behind him. Djokovic expressed sympathy for both the injured spectator and his opponent, noting the shock of such an outcome. As a result, Medvedev will forfeit all points and prize money earned from his run to the semi-finals. This incident echoes a similar event at the 2020 US Open where Djokovic was disqualified for striking a line judge with a ball.
Written for “Medvedev Disqualified Incident” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 3 other(s) covering the same event.
Alex de Minaur will face Novak Djokovic in the final of the China Open after the Serbian star’s semi-final opponent, Daniil Medvedev, was disqualified for hitting a ball into the crowd, causing a spectator to suffer an eye injury.
asserted
spectator → face → injury
The Australian No.1 had progressed from his semi-final after Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz retired injured when trailing in the second set.
asserted
Hurkacz → progress → set
Djokovic was leading 7-5, 5-3 in Beijing and serving for the match when the incident happened.
asserted
incident → lead → match
After a forehand volley winner from Djokovic, the ball bounced off the advertising boards toward Medvedev, who smacked a backhand that sailed into the stands.
asserted
that → bounce → stands
It hit a spectator in the front row behind him.
asserted
It → hit → him
He clutched his left eye and appeared to be in pain as he walked out, assisted by stadium staff.
asserted
he → clutch → staff
“Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all,” Medvedev told reporters.”
asserted
Medvedev → tell → reporters
I’m trying to get in touch with him, if he wants it.
asserted
he → try → it
Hopefully, I can apologise in person and see how he feels.”
asserted
he → apologise → person
The Russian world No.5 said he did not cause the incident intentionally.
asserted
he → say → incident
“The ball was bouncing back, so I tried to, like, just hit it anywhere, so it doesn’t go out from the court.
asserted
it → bounce → court
When I saw the result, I mean, I felt horrible because, again, I don’t think I was ever close to such a situation.”
asserted
I → see → situation
Medvedev, 30, has a history of on-court behaviour issues.
asserted
Medvedev → have → issues
He was fined after he smashed his racquet seven times during a 6-0, 6-0 loss to Matteo Berrettini at this year’s Monte Carlo Masters.
asserted
he → fin → Masters
I hope that person is not badly injured,” said Djokovic, who was disqualified from the US Open in 2020 under similar circumstances.
asserted
who → hope → circumstances
“On the other hand, I also feel sorry for Daniil because I know exactly how it feels to be disqualified in a big match ...
asserted
it → feel → match
I’m sure that Daniil didn’t want to do this intentionally.”
asserted
Daniil → ’m → this
De Minaur will be seeking to become the first person to beat Djokovic in 34 matches at the China Open.
asserted
Minaur → seek → Open
He has a 1-3 head-to-head record with the Serb.
asserted
He → have → Serb
The winner will leave Beijing ninth in the race to qualify for November’s eight-man ATP Finals with the gap to Medvedev in eighth reduced as the Russian will lose the 200 points he had gained in Beijing.
asserted
he → leave → Beijing
There are two ATP Masters 1000 events to come, in Shanghai and Paris, but ninth may still be enough with Jannik Sinner’s availability uncertain.
uncertain
availability → be → Shanghai
On Saturday, the world No.1, who last played at Wimbledon, pulled out of Shanghai, which begins on Wednesday with a knee problem.
asserted
which → play → problem
De Minaur was up 6-4, 3-2 and 40-0 when Hurkacz retired with an apparent adductor injury after showing mobility problems.
asserted
Hurkacz → retire → problems
The world No.9 had broken a tentative Hurkacz in his opening two service games before holding to lead 4-0, then withstood a comeback to take the first set 6-4.
asserted
No.9 → break → set
Another break in the third game of the second set helped de Minaur build a 3-1 lead.
asserted
Minaur → help → lead
Hurkacz fought desperately to hold serve in the following game - surviving four break points and a marathon deuce game - but was unable to battle much longer.
asserted
Hurkacz → fight → points
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asserted
News → send → sport
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