Beijing, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : Former world number one Novak Djokovic secured his place in the final of the China Open after Daniil Medvedev was disqualified during their semi-final match. Djokovic, a six-time champion at this event, was serving at 7-5, 5-3, and 15/15 when a ball rebounded off the back wall. Medvedev reacted quickly, hitting the ball into the crowd, where it struck a fan, leading to his disqualification.
This marks Djokovic’s first appearance in an ATP 500 tournament final since winning the title in Astana in 2022. He will face Alex de Minaur in the championship match on Tuesday. Djokovic holds a favorable head-to-head record against the fifth-seeded Australian, leading 3-1.
The semi-final match lasted 2 hours and 29 minutes, showcasing a thrilling contest between Djokovic and Medvedev. Medvedev, who won the championship in Hangzhou the previous week, was aiming for his eighth consecutive tour-level victory. However, Djokovic made a comeback after losing an early break to win the first set and gained momentum by breaking Medvedev’s serve twice in the second set.
Throughout the match, Djokovic displayed exceptional baseline striking. Although he appeared to struggle physically at times, he successfully saved 16 of 18 break points he faced.
Reflecting on the semi-final, Djokovic expressed sympathy for Medvedev, stating, “Honestly, it was a bit shocking. I feel bad for the injured person. I hope that person isn’t too hurt. On the other hand, I feel for Daniil, as I know how it feels to be disqualified in a big match. I’m sure he didn’t do it intentionally. It happens.”
Djokovic added, “I was just three points away from winning. It was a very tough match. I definitely didn’t want to play a third set. It felt like the conditions were leaning that way. I don’t know how many break points I saved. It was incredible. Matches against Daniil are always tough, especially when he’s hitting the ball well with that powerful serve in slower conditions. But we move on.”
Having defeated top seed Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals, Djokovic is now just one win away from claiming his 102nd tour-level title, bringing him closer to Roger Federer’s record of 103 titles. Only Jimmy Connors, with 109 titles, has won more than Djokovic.
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