Daniil Medvedev was expelled from the China Open after an errant shot struck a fan in the stands, while Novak Djokovic continued his flawless run at the tournament, improving his record there to 33 wins and no defeats and moving within a single match of securing his first title of the 2026 season. The incident occurred in the semi‑final on Monday in Beijing. Medvedev, trailing 7‑5, 5‑3 and just three points away from losing, attempted a backhand return after a Djokovic winner rebounded off the side wall. The ball ricocheted into the crowd and hit a spectator near the left eye.
The fan was immediately assisted by arena staff and later transported to a nearby hospital for medical evaluation. Because of the default, Medvedev will forfeit all ranking points and prize money he had earned up to that stage. The ATP rules state that a player who is disqualified for misconduct loses any rewards from the event, and the sanction was applied without appeal.
The Russian star expressed deep remorse, saying, "I am terribly sorry to the spectator. I have tried to contact him, and I would like to apologise in person if he wishes.
I hope he is okay – his health is the most important thing right now. It was a 100 percent accident; I did not hit the ball out of anger. The ball was bouncing back toward the court, and I tried to hit it away so it wouldn't go out.
When I saw what happened, I felt horrible and want to make amends." Djokovic, who himself was defaulted at the 2020 US Open after a ball struck a line judge, commented on the situation: "It is a bit of a shock, to be honest. I am sorry for the person.
I hope he is not badly injured. I also feel sorry for Daniil because I know exactly how it feels to be disqualified in a big match. I'm sure he didn't intend to do this." The Serbian champion, now 39, has a storied history at the China Open, having captured the title six times between 2009 and 2015. He had not entered the tournament for several years before this campaign, making his return all the more noteworthy.
After a dramatic quarter‑final victory over world No. 2 Alexander Zverev, Djokovic will face Australian Alex de Minaur in the final, seeking his 102nd career title and his first since winning the Greek Open less than a year ago. Djokovic reflected on the semi‑final, describing it as a "gruelling battle" that he hoped to avoid a third set. He praised Medvedev’s power and noted that playing him in slower conditions, where the Russian’s serve loses some bite, is always a challenge.
"I always believe in myself and felt I played well in training, but an official match is a different animal," he said. He added that his draw had been tough from the start, making the prospect of a final in Beijing even sweeter. The Serbian’s recent form has been inconsistent.
He reached the Australian Open final in January, losing to Carlos Alcaraz in four sets, and has struggled with fitness and a lingering medical condition that causes fatigue and occasional vomiting, especially in hot, humid environments. The condition has limited his schedule to just eight tournaments this year, yet his run in Beijing has propelled him back into the world’s top ten. In the other semi‑final, Alex de Minaur advanced after Hubert Hurkacz retired injured while trailing 6‑4, 3‑2.
De Minaur will now try to claim the trophy against Djokovic. On the women’s side, British player Sonay Kartal saw her comeback on the WTA Tour end in the third round with a 6‑4, 6‑1 defeat to Alina Charaeva, who had earlier eliminated world No.
1 Elena Rybakina. Kartal’s appearance was her first WTA event since March, after recovering from a stress fracture in her back.
Rybakina, the reigning US Open champion, subsequently withdrew from the upcoming Wuhan Open due to a foot injury, announcing she would take time to rest and recover. Other notable results from the week included Iga Swiatek fighting back from a set and 5‑2 deficit to beat Donna Vekic 4‑6, 7‑6 (7‑0), 6‑2, and Coco Gauff cruising past Xinran Sun 7‑5, 6‑1 to reach the last 16.
In Tokyo, defending champion Carlos Alcaraz survived a first‑set loss to fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar, turning the match around 5‑7, 6‑3, 6‑1 to book his place in the Japan Open final. Alcaraz, who missed the French Open and Wimbledon due to a wrist injury, later said, "I don’t know what happened in the first set.
It seems I struggle early, but I always find a way back and I’m happy with that." If he wins in Tokyo, it will be his third title of the season after victories in Australia and Qatar, and the 27th of his career. The tournament’s schedule also noted that the women's draw saw several upsets, and the ATP events were broadcast live on Sky Sports Tennis and Sky Sports Main Event, with streaming options available via NOW without a contract.
Overall, the China Open semi‑final will be remembered not only for Djokovic’s continued dominance but also for the unfortunate accident that ended Medvedev’s campaign, reminding fans that the line between competitive intensity and unintended harm can sometimes be razor‑thin.