MEDVEDEV DEFAULTED FROM CHINA OPEN AFTER HITTING FAN WITH BALL

Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from the China Open after striking a spectator in the face with a ball during his semi-final against Novak Djokovic. The incident occurred with Djokovic leading 7-5, 5-3 and 15-15, after the Serb hit a winner past Medvedev. The ball ricocheted off the back of the court, and Medvedev swiped at a backhand in annoyance, sending it into the air and into the face of a fan sitting in the front row of the stand behind him. The spectator doubled over holding his face, keeping a hand to his eye, and was helped out of the arena. Medvedev spoke with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP official before approaching the net to shake hands with Djokovic.

Medvedev, the third seed, was defaulted as a result of the incident. Djokovic was himself defaulted from the 2020 US Open after a similar incident in which he struck a line judge with a ball. Speaking afterwards, Djokovic said he hoped the fan was "not badly injured" and described the moment as "a bit of a shock". He added that he felt sorry for Medvedev, saying he knew "exactly how he feels to be disqualified in a big match", and said he was sure Medvedev had not intended to hit the spectator.

Djokovic's win takes him through to the final of the China Open, according to Sky Sports, which reported that the result extended his record at the tournament to 33-0 and put him one win away from his first title of 2026. The report did not specify further details of the fan's condition following the incident. No further comment from Medvedev was included in the reporting.