Dramatic Default and Historic Milestone for Djokovic
Semi-final day at the ATP 500 China Open delivered unprecedented drama, as neither match reached a natural conclusion. The headline encounter was the 16th career meeting between long-time rivals Novak Djokovic and Daniil Medvedev, with the Serbian maestro leading their head-to-head 10-5. Djokovic took the opening set and held a 5-3 lead in the second when a shocking incident occurred on his serve at 15-0.
After Djokovic struck a clean winner that rebounded off the back wall, a frustrated Medvedev took a violent swipe at the returning ball. The ball flew directly into the lower bowl of the stands, striking a spectator in the front row. Chair umpire Mohamed Lahyani consulted tournament supervisors and made the call to default the Russian, awarding the victory to Djokovic.
With this result, Djokovic etched his name into tennis history once again. The victory marked his 33rd consecutive win in Beijing, equaling Monica Seles’ all-time Open Era record of 33 straight match victories at a single event, which she achieved at the Australian Open. Djokovic had already surpassed Rafael Nadal’s men’s record of 31 consecutive match wins (set at Roland Garros) following his quarter-final victory over Alexander Zverev.
Unfinished Match Statistics:
Djokovic demonstrated nerves of steel under pressure, successfully saving 16 of 18 break points against Medvedev.
- Serve: Djokovic recorded a 64% first-serve percentage, 3 aces, and 6 double faults (Medvedev: 4 aces, 3 double faults).
- Efficiency: Novak won 71% of points on his first serve and converted 4 of 10 break point opportunities.
- Total Points: Djokovic commanded the match until the stoppage, winning 90 points to Medvedev’s 76.
Hurkacz Forced to Retire, De Minaur Advances
In the opening semi-final, Alex De Minaur secured his spot in the championship match after Hubert Hurkacz retired midway through the second set due to a hamstring strain. The Australian came out firing, securing two early breaks to race to a 4-0 lead. Hurkacz managed to claw one break back to reach 5-4, but De Minaur held his nerve with a clinical service game to take the opener 6-4.
With De Minaur leading 3-2 in the second set, Hurkacz could no longer continue. The issue had initially flared up during his grueling quarter-final victory over Karen Khachanov, and visible discomfort on the Polish star’s face made it clear he could not push through the pain any further.
Final Schedule: Djokovic vs De Minaur
The stage is set for the championship clash at the China Open:
- October 6, 13:00 – Novak Djokovic vs Alex De Minaur
For full bracket breakdowns, tournament statistics, and match previews, check out our comprehensive tournament hub: 👉 ATP Beijing 2026 – Complete Tournament Guide and Draw.
