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Novak Djokovic has advanced to the China Open final after Daniil Medvedev was disqualified when a ball struck a spectator during their semi-final in Beijing on Monday.
Djokovic led 7-5, 5-3 and was serving for the match when Medvedev hit a backhand toward the edge of the stands after failing to return a point. The ball struck a man seated behind the Russian’s side of the court, prompting the chair umpire to stop play.
The spectator was seen holding his face before being escorted from his seat. Medvedev was subsequently disqualified, bringing an abrupt end to a physically demanding contest. The Russian apologised after the match, describing the incident as accidental.
“Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all,” Medvedev told reporters, adding that it was “100 per cent an accident”. He also said he wanted to apologise to the fan in person.
Djokovic said he did not clearly see what happened but defended his opponent against suggestions the incident was deliberate.
“I didn’t see what happened, to be honest,” Djokovic said. “I’m sure that Daniil didn’t do it intentionally. It happened by accident.”
Before the disqualification, the 39-year-old Serbian had produced a resilient performance, saving 16 break points during a demanding match filled with long rallies. Djokovic repeatedly chased down shots from the baseline and moved forward aggressively as he gradually gained control in the second set.
The world number 11 will face ninth-ranked Alex de Minaur in Tuesday’s final. The Australian progressed after Poland’s Hubert Hurkacz retired from their semi-final with an adductor injury.
In the women’s draw, former world number one Iga Swiatek recovered from a difficult start to beat Croatia’s Donna Vekic 4-6, 7-6 (7/0), 6-2 and reach the last 16.
Swiatek admitted frustration had affected her before she changed her approach.
“I was just angry, wanted to change something, because clearly it wasn’t working,” she said. She will face American teenager Iva Jovic for a place in the quarter-finals.
Read More : Djokovic Stuns Top Seed Zverev at China Open
China’s Zheng Qinwen also progressed after another demanding three-set match, defeating Marie Bouzkova 7-6 (7/3), 4-6, 7-5.
“I gave everything,” Zheng told the home crowd after completing her third three-set contest of the tournament. She will next face Alina Charaeva, who defeated top seed Elena Rybakina in the second round.
Wimbledon champion Linda Noskova also reached the last 16, where she will meet Ekaterina Alexandrova.
