{"id":47359,"date":"2026-10-06T11:21:19","date_gmt":"2026-10-06T09:21:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/?post_type=news&#038;p=47359"},"modified":"2026-10-06T11:21:19","modified_gmt":"2026-10-06T09:21:19","slug":"medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-after-spectator-injured","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.channelafrica.co.za\/channelafrica\/news\/medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-after-spectator-injured\/","title":{"rendered":"Medvedev disqualified from China Open after spectator injured"},"content":{"rendered":"<div dir=\"ltr\" data-olk-copy-source=\"MessageBody\">Russian Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final clash with Novak Djokovic after hitting a rebounding ball into the crowd, striking a spectator in the eye.<\/div>\n<div id=\"x_ms-outlook-mobile-signature\">\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">World number five Medvedev was trailing 7-5 5-3 on Monday and had lost a point when he hit the ball coming off the wall.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">The spectator, who was sitting in the first row behind Medvedev, clutched his left eye and appeared to be in pain as he walked out of the gallery, assisted by stadium staff.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">Medvedev did not protest the umpire\u2019s decision to disqualify him. The Russian will lose his points and prize money from the tournament as a result of the default.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">\u201cTerribly sorry to the spectator, first of all,\u201d Medvedev told reporters.\u201d I\u2019m trying to get in touch with him, if he wants it. Hopefully I can apologise in person and see how he feels.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">The 30-year-old former US Open champion said he did not cause the incident intentionally.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">\u201cThe ball was bouncing back, so I tried to, like, just hit it anywhere, so it doesn\u2019t go out from the court. When I saw the result, I mean, I felt horrible because, again, I don\u2019t think I was ever close to such a situation.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">Sixth seed Djokovic said he was shocked by the incident.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">\u201cI hope that person is not badly injured,\u201d said Djokovic,\u00a0who was disqualified from the US Open in 2020 in similar circumstances.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">\u201cOn the other hand, I also feel sorry for Daniil because I know exactly how it feels to be disqualified in a big match.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">Both semi-finals ended prematurely in Beijing as Hubert Hurkacz retired with an adductor injury earlier in the day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">Australian Alex de Minaur was leading the first semi 6-4 3-2 when his Polish opponent, who had struggled with movement throughout the match, retired.<\/p>\n<p class=\"x_font-knowledge x_regular x_line-height-1-5 x_text-story x_color-black x_f6 x_pt16 x_pb20 x_border-bottom x_border-gray-22 x_story-copy\" dir=\"auto\">&#8211;Reuters&#8211;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":14078,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"news-type":[20],"class_list":["post-47359","news","type-news","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","news-type-sport","entry"],"acf":{"short_description":"Medvedev did not protest the umpire\u2019s decision to disqualify him. ","published_date":"","news_description":"Medvedev did not protest the umpire\u2019s decision to disqualify him. 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