{
  "id": 12179506,
  "title": "Medvedev disqualified from China Open semi after hitting ball into crowd",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-semi-after-hitting-ball-into-12179506",
  "topic": "culture",
  "section": "Culture",
  "published": "2026-10-05T14:45:17.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/sports/2026/10/05/medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-semi-after-hitting-ball-into-crowd"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "World number five Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final match against Novak Djokovic on Monday after striking a ball into the crowd. The incident occurred when Medvedev, trailing 7-5, 5-3, hit a rebounding ball that landed in front of the first-row spectators. The spectator, who was sitting in the front row, clutched his left eye and appeared to be in distress as he was ushered out of the gallery by stadium staff. Medvedev's opponent, world number one Novak Djokovic, expressed shock at the situation, stating that he hopes the spectator is not severely injured. Djokovic also empathized with Medvedev, given his own experience of being disqualified in the US Open in 2020 under similar circumstances. The Chinese tennis authorities have confirmed that Medvedev was disqualified for the safety of the spectators. Earlier in the day, Hubert Hurkacz had to withdraw from his semi-final match against Alex de Minaur due to an adductor injury, resulting in both semi-finals being terminated prematurely in Beijing.",
  "summary": "The result means Novak Djokovic has qualified for the China Open final, where he will face Australian Alex de Minaur.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 9,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Business Recorder",
        "title": "Medvedev disqualified from China Open semi after hitting ball into crowd",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-semi-after-hitting-ball-into",
        "published": "2026-10-05T14:39:56.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "Medvedev disqualified from China Open semi after hitting ball into crowd",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-semi-after-hitting-ball-into-12178271",
        "published": "2026-10-05T14:45:17.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Gulf News",
        "title": "Medvedev disqualified from China Open for hitting spectator with a ball during match vs. Djokovic",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-for-hitting-spectator-with-a",
        "published": "2026-10-05T14:52:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "Medvedev disqualified after hitting spectator with ball; Djokovic ‘shocked’ - Watch",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/medvedev-disqualified-after-hitting-spectator-with-ball-djokovic",
        "published": "2026-10-05T15:02:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Sky News",
        "title": "Medvedev disqualified after hitting spectator with ball during Djokovic match",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/medvedev-disqualified-after-hitting-spectator-with-ball-during",
        "published": "2026-10-05T15:19:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "SABC News",
        "title": "Medvedev disqualified from China Open after spectator injured",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-after-spectator-injured",
        "published": "2026-10-05T15:47:23.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Al Jazeera",
        "title": "Medvedev disqualified from China Open for hitting fan with a ball",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-for-hitting-fan-with-a-ball",
        "published": "2026-10-05T16:17:07.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Press Journal",
        "title": "Novak Djokovic Reaches China Open Final After Daniil Medvedev Defaulted For Ball Hitting Spectator",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/05/novak-djokovic-reaches-china-open-final-after-daniil-medvedev",
        "published": "2026-10-05T16:33:09.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}