A Long Time Coming for Medvedev
Daniil Medvedev has always been a fascinating contradiction. Off the court, he is thoughtful, self-deprecating, and genuinely funny in press conferences. On it, something shifts. He admitted as much back at the 2019 US Open, joking that he has "no idea why the demons go out" when he competes. On Monday in Beijing, those demons finally cost him everything.
During the China Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic, with the Serbian serving for a place in the final, a ball bounced off the back of the court and Medvedev swatted it into the stands. It struck a spectator in the face. Minutes later, officials invoked the tour rule prohibiting players from hitting a ball with "negligent disregard of the consequences," and Medvedev was disqualified. It was a jarring but defensible call, and his track record made it hard to argue otherwise. From sprinkling coins at an umpire's feet at Wimbledon in 2017 to later outbursts directed at chair officials, the Russian has repeatedly pushed the boundaries of acceptable conduct during matches.
Djokovic Eyes the Final With Bigger Stakes Emerging
For Djokovic, the walkover arrival in the final is only part of a much larger picture unfolding this autumn. Jannik Sinner, the world No. 1, has confirmed he is shutting down his entire 2026 season due to a knee condition requiring treatment. That means Sinner will not contest the ATP Finals in Turin, potentially opening a spot for Djokovic, who currently sits tenth in the qualification standings. A victory in Beijing's final could push him past Alex de Minaur in the race. Sinner's withdrawal also preserves two of Djokovic's records: his mark of six Masters titles in a single season, and three consecutive ATP Finals titles, neither of which Sinner can now chase.
TennisDraw users had Djokovic penciled in as a finalist well before Medvedev's disqualification made it official.
