Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic after hitting a spectator with a ball during the match.
The incident occurred while Djokovic was serving with a 5-7, 3-5 lead.
Medvedev, apparently frustrated, struck a ball toward the stands, but it hit a spectator sitting in the front row in the left eye. The injured spectator was subsequently escorted out of the venue while covering the affected eye.
Officials then disqualified Medvedev from the match, handing Djokovic a controversial victory and a place in the China Open final.
The incident immediately drew comparisons with Djokovic’s own disqualification from the 2020 US Open. The Serbian was removed from that tournament after accidentally hitting a line judge with a ball during his fourth-round match against Pablo Carreno Busta.
The victory also extended Djokovic’s unbeaten China Open record to 33-0, maintaining his perfect record at the tournament.
Djokovic will face Australian Alex de Minaur in the final. De Minaur reached the title match after Hubert Hurkacz was forced to retire from their semi-final because of injury.
Medvedev’s disqualification has once again highlighted the strict consequences players can face when hitting balls toward spectators or officials in frustration, even when there is no apparent intention to cause injury.