'Shocking' Tennis Star Hurls Backhand at Spectator's Face During Match... "I Am Sincerely and Deeply Sorry"

*This content was translated by AI.

It is an unprecedented incident involving a world-renowned tennis star. Daniil Medvedev (30, Russia) was immediately disqualified after losing his temper during a match and striking a ball at a spectator's face in a shocking accident.

The British media outlet 'BBC' reported on the 5th (Korean time), "Medvedev was disqualified after hitting a spectator in the face with a ball during the China Open semifinal against Novak Djokovic."

The shocking incident occurred while Medvedev was trailing 0-1 in sets and 3-5 in games in the second set. As Djokovic tied the game at 15-15, Medvedev, irritated by a ball that had bounced off the wall behind the court, swung his backhand forcefully. The ball left the racket and flew straight into the front row of the stands, striking a male spectator who was seated in the face.

The spectator, hit squarely in the face by the ball, curled up in extreme pain and was urgently escorted out of the stadium while clutching one eye and being supported. After an emergency conference on the court between chair umpire Mohamed Layani and a Men's Professional Tennis (ATP) official, Medvedev was immediately declared disqualified. Medvedev shook hands with Djokovic before leaving the court in dejection.

In tennis, disqualification is an extremely rare severe sanction imposed only when a rule violation is very serious. Medvedev's action was judged as an immediate disqualification case. He will have all ranking points and prize money earned in this tournament confiscated. Medvedev, who has typically shown issues with emotional control on the court due to his hot-tempered personality, ultimately left an indelible blemish on his career through a worst-case impulsive act.

After the match, Medvedev bowed his head, saying, "Above all, I am sincerely and deeply sorry to that spectator." He added, "If you wish, I would like to contact you directly to apologize in person and check on your condition. I only hope that you are not seriously injured, and right now, your health is my greatest concern."

Opponent Djokovic, who had experienced a similar disqualification due to a ball-throwing incident at the 2020 US Open, said, "Honestly, I was greatly shocked. I hope that spectator is not seriously injured," while also expressing a troubled state of mind: "I feel sorry for Medvedev as well. I know all too well how it feels when you are disqualified in a big match. It certainly was not an intentional act."

Meanwhile, 39-year-old veteran Djokovic, who advanced to the final due to Medvedev's shocking disqualification on this day, will compete against Alex de Minaur for the tournament title.

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*This content was translated by AI.