Medvedev was defaulted after a ball hit a fan, while wild card Zheng Qinwen won a third straight three-setter to reach the last 16 in Beijing
Djokovic faces De Minaur in China Open final as Zheng reaches last 16
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Tennis legend Novak Djokovic will play Alex de Minaur in the China Open final tonight at 7 pm China time, after Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from their semi-final in Beijing for hitting a spectator with a ball.
Djokovic led 7-5, 5-3 when the incident happened. A ball Medvedev hit struck a fan in the stands, who was helped from the arena. Medvedev called it a “100 per cent accident.” Djokovic said it was “a bit of a shock” and that he was sorry for the person.
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The win extends Djokovic’s unbeaten run at the China Open to 33 matches. He is chasing a seventh Beijing title.
His opponent, fifth seed De Minaur, got through when Hubert Hurkacz retired with an adductor injury while trailing 6-4, 3-2.
Zheng Qinwen reaches the last 16
Wild card Zheng Qinwen meanwhile beat Czech Marie Bouzkova, the 18th seed, 7-6(3), 4-6, 7-5 in 2 hours 54 minutes on Monday to reach the last 16 at her home tournament.
It was her third three-set match in as many rounds, and she has now spent more than eight hours on court. Thirteen of her 21 wins this season have gone to three sets. Zheng said players bring their best tennis against her at home, adding that “everybody wants to take me down.”
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Next up is Alina Charaeva of Armenia, ranked 118th. Charaeva has already beaten world number one Elena Rybakina and Britain’s Sonay Kartal in the tournament. The start time of their match is yet to be confirmed.
Zheng, the Olympic champion, has been working her way back from elbow surgery. Last month, she reached the US Open quarter-finals as a qualifier, beating Iga Swiatek along the way.
