Medvedev disqualified after ball hits spectator in China Open semi-final

Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic on Monday after striking a ball that hit a spectator in the face. BBC Sport reported that the Russian was trailing 7-5, 5-3 when the incident ended the contest in Beijing, with Djokovic serving for a place in the final.

Watch the highlights:

The incident followed a Djokovic winner that made the score 15-15. According to BBC Sport, the ball rebounded from the back of the court before Medvedev struck it with a backhand towards the stands. It hit a spectator in the front row, who bent forward holding his face and was helped out of the arena while still holding his eye.

Medvedev spoke with chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP official before approaching the net to shake hands with Djokovic. In comments reported by BBC Sport, he apologised to the spectator and said he was trying to contact him, if the man wished, so he could apologise in person and ask how he was feeling.

Before the abrupt finish, both players had recovered from breaks of serve. Media365's report for Orange Sport said Medvedev broke first at 2-2 in the opening set, only for Djokovic to respond immediately. The Serbian then broke again at 6-5 to take the set, converting his second set point when Medvedev put a backhand into the net.

Djokovic gained another break at 3-2 in the second set. Medvedev recovered that break to reach 3-4, but then lost serve again, leaving Djokovic to serve at 5-3 when the match was stopped. At 15-15 in that service game, Djokovic was three points from completing the victory when the incident brought the match to an immediate end.

Djokovic will face Alex de Minaur in Tuesday's final after neither men's semi-final reached a conventional conclusion. Orange Sport reported that De Minaur advanced when Hubert Hurkacz retired with the Australian leading 6-4, 3-2; the reason for the retirement was not established in that report. Djokovic's progression extended his unbeaten record at the Beijing tournament to 33 matches.