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Beijing Open 2026 produced a shocking semifinal moment Monday when Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his match against Novak Djokovic after hitting a ball into the stands and striking a spectator in the front row.
The incident happened during a tense China Open semifinal in Beijing. Djokovic was serving for the match at 7-5, 5-3 when Medvedev struck the ball after a forehand volley from his opponent had bounced off the advertising boards and returned toward him.
Medvedev attempted to send the ball away from the court, but his backhand flew into the crowd. The spectator was hit in the face and was later helped out of the arena while holding a hand over his left eye.
Beijing Open 2026 Semifinal Ends in Dramatic Disqualification
The chair umpire and tournament supervisor quickly came onto the court to discuss the situation with Medvedev. The former US Open champion did not appear to strongly challenge the decision and soon walked to the net to shake hands with Djokovic.
Medvedev immediately showed remorse after realizing what had happened. He said the shot was accidental and explained that the ball had been bouncing back toward him, leaving him trying to hit it somewhere outside the court.
“It was 100% an accident,” Medvedev said. “You can see that I didn’t hit the ball in anger. The ball was bouncing back, so I tried to just hit it anywhere, so it wouldn’t go out of the court.”
The Russian also expressed concern for the spectator’s condition and hoped to speak with the fan personally.
“I feel terribly sorry for him actually and I just hope he’s OK,” Medvedev said. “Hopefully I can meet him and make up for it somehow.”
Djokovic Advances Despite Emotional Scene
Djokovic admitted that the moment was a shock because he did not initially see exactly what had happened. The Serbian star said he felt sympathy for both the injured spectator and Medvedev, having experienced a similar situation himself.
“I honestly didn’t see what happened. I hope that person is not badly injured,” Djokovic said. “I also feel sorry for Daniil, because I know exactly how he feels to be disqualified in a big match.”
The incident recalled Djokovic’s controversial disqualification at the 2020 US Open. During that tournament, he accidentally struck a line judge in the throat with a ball after losing a game, resulting in his removal from the competition.
Monday’s decision ended what had been a high-level contest between two familiar rivals. It was the first meeting between the 39-year-old Djokovic and Medvedev since Djokovic defeated him in the 2023 US Open final.
- Daniil Medvedev was disqualified during the semifinal.
- A spectator in the front row was struck in the face.
- Novak Djokovic advanced to the China Open final.
- Djokovic improved his career record at the event to 33-0.
Djokovic Faces Alex de Minaur in the Final
Djokovic will face ninth-ranked Alex de Minaur in Tuesday’s final. De Minaur reached the championship match after Hubert Hurkacz retired during their semifinal because of an apparent injury.
De Minaur was leading 6-4, 3-2 when Hurkacz stopped playing. The Polish player appeared to have difficulty moving during the second set, although the precise nature of his injury was not immediately clear.
The final gives Djokovic another opportunity to extend his remarkable record in Beijing. His perfect run at the China Open has now reached 33 victories, and he will enter the title match as the clear favorite against de Minaur.
For Medvedev, the disqualification adds a painful ending to a match that was decided by an unintended action rather than a conventional tennis result. The episode also highlights the risks involved when players strike balls toward the surrounding stands, even during moments without obvious anger or aggression.
Why the Beijing Incident Matters
Player safety and spectator protection remain major concerns at professional tennis tournaments. Balls can travel at extremely high speeds, and even an accidental shot may cause serious injury when it reaches the audience.
Medvedev’s immediate apology and Djokovic’s sympathetic reaction helped calm the situation, but the disqualification was still necessary under the tournament’s conduct rules. The event is likely to renew discussion about player behavior, court-side barriers and how officials respond when spectators are hit.
As reported by ESPN News Services, information from The Associated Press also contributed to the coverage of the match and the injury situation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Daniil Medvedev disqualified?
Medvedev was disqualified after hitting a ball into the stands during his semifinal against Novak Djokovic. The ball struck a spectator in the front row.
Was Medvedev’s shot intentional?
Medvedev said the shot was “100%” accidental. He explained that the ball had bounced back toward him, prompting him to hit it away from the court.
Did Novak Djokovic win the semifinal?
Djokovic advanced after Medvedev’s disqualification while he was leading 7-5, 5-3. He will play Alex de Minaur in the final.
What happened to the spectator?
The spectator was helped out of the arena while holding a hand over his left eye. Medvedev said he hoped the fan was not seriously injured.
What is Djokovic’s record at the China Open?
Djokovic improved his perfect career record at the China Open to 33-0 after advancing from the semifinal.
