Djokovic into Beijing final vs. De Minaur after Medvedev is disqualified
Novak Djokovic (No. 6) reached the China Open final on Monday when Daniil Medvedev (No. 3) was disqualified with the Serb serving for the match. Djokovic, himself disqualified at the 2020 US Open, said he felt sorry for his opponent. At 39, he will face Alex de Minaur (No. 5) for the title.
Djokovic – Medvedev, Beijing 2026 | © AP Photo/Andy Wong/SIPA
Serb Novak Djokovic, the No. 6 seed, reached the final of the China Open on Monday afternoon in extraordinary circumstances. Daniil Medvedev, the No. 3 seed, was disqualified with Djokovic leading 7-5, 5-3 and serving for the match.
The incident came in the middle of a rally. Pushed out wide to his right and dominated in the exchange, Medvedev hit a backhand toward the opposite side of the court. The ball flew at full power into a box of spectators. The referee and the supervisor had no choice, and an epic battle that was far from over ended abruptly.
The referee and the supervisor had no choice, and an epic battle that was far from over ended abruptly. The disqualification is a heavy blow for Medvedev. He loses all the ATP ranking points and prize money he earned in Beijing, at a time when he is in the race to qualify for the ATP Finals.
I feel sorry for Daniil as well because I know exactly what it feels to be disqualified in a match for this.
“I’m a bit shocked. Sorry for the person. I hope he is not injured,” he said. “I feel sorry for Daniil as well because I know exactly what it feels to be disqualified in a match for this. I was disqualified at the US Open 2020. I was three points away from the win, incredible battle today.”
The result adds to a remarkable week for the 39-year-old. After beating world No. 2 Alexander Zverev in the quarterfinals, he becomes the first player over 39 to beat two Top 10 opponents at the same tournament since the ATP Tour was created in 1990.
At 39 years and 137 days, he is also the oldest ATP 500 finalist. Across all Tour-level events since 1990, only Ivo Karlovic, a finalist in Pune in 2019 at 39 years and 311 days, reached a final at an older age.
The world No. 11, now 33-0 in Beijing, had beaten top seed Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, Chinese wild card Yunchaokete Bu 4-6, 7-6 (2), 6-2 and Portuguese Nuno Borges 6-3, 7-6 (2).
Djokovic will face Australian Alex de Minaur, the No. 5 seed, in the final. De Minaur also advanced without finishing his semifinal: Pole Hubert Hurkacz retired with the Australian leading 6-4, 3-2.
