Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from his China Open semifinal against Novak Djokovic on Tuesday after a ball he struck hit a spectator in the face, according to Sky Sports. The incident ended the match and sent Djokovic through to the final in Beijing.
Sky Sports reports that Medvedev was disqualified for hitting the spectator with the ball. The BBC, The Guardian and The Telegraph also reported the default, with The Telegraph publishing video of the moment the fan was struck. The ATP Tour confirmed that Djokovic reached the Beijing final after Medvedev was defaulted.
The disqualification decided the semifinal without further play. Under tennis rules, a player can be removed from a match for striking a person with a ball, and the officials applied that ruling here. The affected spectator's condition was not detailed in the reporting.
Medvedev's exit removes him from contention at the tournament and hands Djokovic a place in the title match. The ATP Tour reported Djokovic's advancement, while multiple outlets, including the BBC and The Guardian, framed the outcome as a disqualification rather than a completed win.
Djokovic now moves on to the final, where he will play for the China Open title. What to watch next: the tournament's final and any statement from organizers or the ATP on the default.
