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Tennis rules called into question during Novak Djokovic’s win over Daniil Medvedev, ‘this doesn’t feel right’

Novak Djokovic advanced to the China Open final after Daniil Medvedev was disqualified during their quarterfinal match, a turn of events that overshadowed Djokovic’s dominant performance. The Serbian was three points away from victory when Medvedev, frustrated after missing a crucial shot, struck a spectator with a ball while calling for a timeout.

The umpire’s decision to disqualify Medvedev ended the match abruptly, though Djokovic had already secured the win. Earlier in the match, Sky Sports pundits Annabel Croft and Pete Odgers criticized the timing of Medvedev’s medical timeout, arguing that player interruptions mid-point disrupt the natural flow of tennis.

Croft specifically questioned why such breaks are allowed outside of scheduled changeovers, suggesting it undermines the sport’s momentum. Djokovic, who had faced four consecutive medical timeouts in his previous match against Alexander Zverev, had not yet taken one against Medvedev, adding to the controversy over the rule’s fairness.

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