Daniil Medvedev exited the China Open in dramatic fashion after officials disqualified him from his semifinal match against Novak Djokovic. The abrupt conclusion to the tournament arrived on October 5, 2026, while Medvedev was down a set and trailing in the second.
The confrontation that led to the default took place on the court when the Russian player struck a ball into the crowd. The projectile hit a spectator, triggering an immediate penalty from the tournament referee and ending the contest prematurely. At the time of the incident, Djokovic held a lead of 7-5, 5-3, putting him on the verge of victory.
Following the sudden termination of the match, Djokovic spoke to reporters about the incident. The tennis star admitted he felt shocked by the turn of events and expressed sympathy for both his opponent and the fan who was struck by the ball. Such disqualifications are rare at the highest levels of professional tennis, typically resulting from code violations involving reckless ball striking or unsportsmanlike conduct.
The disqualification secured Djokovic a spot in the tournament final without the need to play out the final game. Meanwhile, the other side of the tournament draw saw movement earlier in the day when Alex de Minaur secured his place in the championship match. De Minaur advanced after his opponent, Hubert Hurkacz, was forced to retire from their semifinal encounter due to an injury.
Organizers at the China Open have not yet released official statements regarding potential fines or further disciplinary action against Medvedev following the incident. Tournament officials are expected to review the match footage and official reports before making any additional determinations.
Reporting based on coverage first published by The Times of India. Read the original report at The Times of India.
