The incident occurred immediately after Medvedev failed to return a point. In a moment of frustration, the Russian struck a backhand toward the edge of the court, where the ball hit a man seated behind his baseline. The spectator was observed holding his face before being escorted from his seat, leading the chair umpire to intervene and disqualify Medvedev from the tournament.
Medvedev Apologises Following Default in Beijing
Following the match, Medvedev expressed his regret regarding the incident, maintaining that the action was entirely unintentional. Addressing the situation, he stated that he was terribly sorry to the spectator and insisted that the strike was 100 percent an accident.
Djokovic, who was focused on his service game at the time, admitted he did not witness the specific moment the ball struck the individual. However, the 39-year-old expressed his belief that his opponent had not acted with malice. Speaking to the crowd, Djokovic noted that he was certain the incident was purely accidental.
Prior to the default, the semi-final had been a physically demanding contest. Djokovic, currently ranked 11th in the world, had been forced to defend his position against a persistent challenge, saving 16 break points throughout the match. His performance featured several notable defensive efforts, including baseline dives and aggressive net approaches during extended rallies.
With this result, Djokovic moves on to Tuesday’s final, where he is set to face ninth-ranked Alex de Minaur. De Minaur earned his spot in the championship match after his opponent, Hubert Hurkacz, was forced to retire due to an adductor injury.
In other tournament action, Iga Swiatek mounted a comeback to defeat Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2, setting up a last-16 clash with Iva Jovic. Meanwhile, home favourite Zheng Qinwen continued her run by overcoming Marie Bouzkova in a 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-5 victory, marking her third consecutive three-set match. Additionally, Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova advanced to the next round, where she is scheduled to compete against Ekaterina Alexandrova.
