Daniil Medvedev Disqualified at Beijing ATP 500 After Striking Spectator With Ball
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified during the second set of his semifinal match against Novak Djokovic at the ATP 500 in Beijing after striking a spectator in the eye with a tennis ball, corriere.it reported.
Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani intervened immediately alongside the tournament supervisor, resulting in the definitive disqualification of Medvedev, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport. The ruling handed Novak Djokovic his 33rd victory in 33 matches played in Beijing and advanced him directly to the final against Alex de Minaur. In the other half of the draw, De Minaur reached the championship match following the retirement of Hubert Hurkacz while leading 6-4, 3-2.
Medvedev loses prize money after accidental default
Djokovic referenced his own disqualification at the 2020 US Open against Pablo Carreno Busta under similar circumstances. Djokovic added that he hoped the injured fan had not suffered serious harm.
Medvedev lost all accumulated prize money and ranking points from the tournament following the default. In statements reported by corriere.it, the Russian player insisted the action was accidental and that he was merely attempting to keep the ball from flying out of the court. The incident marks the second disqualification of Medvedev’s professional career, following a previous default at the 2016 Savannah Challenger event.
Tournament Finals Set in Beijing and Tokyo
With Djokovic advancing via default, the Beijing final pairs the Serbian veteran against Australia’s Alex de Minaur, ansa.it reported. De Minaur advanced when Hubert Hurkacz withdrew due to injury during the second set of their semifinal encounter.
Did you know? Novak Djokovic holds a 33-0 match record at the Beijing tournament.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Beijing Semifinal Incident
What exact score was the match when the disqualification occurred?
The match was in the second set with Novak Djokovic leading 7-5, 5-3, and the score at 15-15 in the ninth game when the incident took place, according to La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Who did Daniil Medvedev hit with the ball?
The ball struck an unidentified spectator in the eye, forcing the fan to leave the stands with the assistance of medical personnel holding their face, as reported by La Gazzetta dello Sport and corriere.it.
Who will Novak Djokovic face in the Beijing final?
Novak Djokovic will face Australian player Alex de Minaur, who advanced to the final following the retirement of Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz, ansa.it reported.
Has Daniil Medvedev been disqualified from a match before?
Yes, corriere.it noted that Medvedev suffered a prior career default in April 2016 at the Challenger tournament in Savannah against Donald Young.
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