The ball hit a spectator seated in the front row, who was subsequently seen leaving the arena while holding a hand over their left eye. Following the incident, officials made the decision to disqualify the Russian player, effectively ending the contest and handing the victory to Djokovic.
Djokovic advances to final as Hurkacz retires
The disqualification marks a premature conclusion to what was the first encounter between the two players since the 2023 US Open final. For Djokovic, the result maintains his unblemished record at the China Open, where he has now reached a career tally of 33 wins without a single defeat.
The match incident drew immediate comparisons to the 2020 US Open, where Djokovic himself was disqualified after accidentally striking a line judge with a ball. With his place in the final now secured, the 39-year-old will prepare to face
De Minaur reaches final after Hurkacz withdrawal
The other side of the draw saw ninth-ranked Alex de Minaur progress to the championship match after his opponent, Hubert Hurkacz, was forced to retire. De Minaur held a 6-4, 3-2 lead when the match was called to a halt.
Hurkacz appeared to be struggling physically throughout the second set, showing visible difficulty in moving across the court before ultimately deciding he could no longer continue. While the specific nature of the injury remains unconfirmed, the retirement allowed De Minaur to book his spot in the final against the tournament favorite, Djokovic.
