Novak Djokovic advanced to the final of the ATP 500 tournament in Beijing on Monday, earning his 146th career final appearance. He defeated Daniil Medvedev, who was disqualified after accidentally hitting a ball that struck a spectator in the stands. The incident occurred during Djokovic's service game, when he was leading 7-5, 5-3. Medvedev struck the ball after the point had concluded, and it hit a spectator in the face, prompting the referee to immediately disqualify him. According to one account, the ball bounced toward the back of the court after Djokovic won a point, and Medvedev hit it after the exchange had ended. Another report indicated the ball struck a spectator in the left eye. Medvedev expressed regret, stating the incident was unintentional and that he did not hit the ball out of anger. He mentioned he hoped to personally apologize to the spectator and check on their well-being. Djokovic, who was three points away from victory, expressed sympathy for Medvedev, noting that he had faced a similar disqualification at the US Open in 2020. Djokovic emphasized that he was confident Medvedev had no intention of causing harm. The Serbian player will now face Alex de Minaur in the final, who qualified after Hubert Hurkacz withdrew from their semifinal match due to an adductor injury. De Minaur led 6-4, 3-2 when Hurkacz retired. Djokovic's victory marked his 33rd consecutive win in Beijing, where he has won 33 matches since 2009. Medvedev's disqualification could affect his chances of qualifying for the year-end Masters in Turin, as disqualified players lose all points and prize money earned during the tournament. However, the ATP website awarded Medvedev 150 points for his performance in Beijing by late afternoon on Monday. Djokovic and de Minaur are now the two closest challengers to Medvedev in the "Race," the seasonal ranking that determines the eight players qualified for the Masters. Djokovic leads their head-to-head record 3-1, and de Minaur qualified for his third final of the season on Monday.