Tennis essentials for October 5: Medvedev defaulted in Beijing, Djokovic into the final, Sinner out of Shanghai

The Asian swing lived through its strangest day: a semi-final in Beijing ended in a default, Carlos Alcaraz flirted with disaster in Tokyo, and the Shanghai Masters 1000 will start on Tuesday without its world number 1.

Medvedev defaulted after hitting a spectator in the face

With Novak Djokovic serving for the match (7-5, 5-3, 15-15), Daniil Medvedev fired a ball away in frustration and hit a spectator near the left eye. Blinded, the man had to leave the stadium, and the Russian was defaulted: he loses all his points and prize money from the week. “I am terribly sorry for the spectator, it was 100 per cent an accident,” he insisted.

Djokovic chases a seventh Beijing title

Djokovic, unbeaten in 33 matches in the Chinese capital, now targets a seventh title in as many appearances there, and his first of 2026, against Alex de Minaur, who advanced after Hubert Hurkacz retired (6-4, 3-2 ret.). The day before, he had come past Alexander Zverev (4-6, 6-4, 6-4); “it is a defeat I could have avoided,” the German admitted, having needed to win Beijing and then Shanghai to become number 1. The Serb saved 16 of 18 break points in the semi-final.

Tokyo: Alcaraz survives, Lehecka waits

After leading 5-3, Carlos Alcaraz lost four games in a row, two double faults included, and the opening set 5-7 to Jaume Munar, before pulling clear (5-7, 6-3, 6-1 in 2h33). “Honestly, I don’t know what happened in the first set,” he said. Jiri Lehecka saw off Valentin Vacherot (6-4, 6-2) and will play Tuesday’s final against the Spaniard, chasing a first title of the season. Beaten by Vacherot in the quarter-finals (7-5, 4-6, 6-4 after 2h22), Arthur Fils now sits 10th in the world rankings, overtaken by De Minaur.

Sinner withdraws from Shanghai, and the worry grows

Jannik Sinner has not played since his Wimbledon title on 12 July and has withdrawn from the Shanghai Masters 1000 (7-18 October); his knee is worrying Italy. “It has been a long time since he last played, so there is reason to be worried,” said Adriano Panatta, who hopes to see him at the ATP Finals and would like him to restart in Vienna. The draw put Arthur Fils in Carlos Alcaraz’s half, with Rafael Jodar or Jiri Lehecka possible last-16 opponents.

Atmane cracks again in Shanghai

Terence Atmane made the rounds of the tennis pages once more: a racket thrown towards the crowd, then a retirement on Monday as Bernard Tomic was about to serve for the match (6-3, 4-6, 5-3 ret.), his second in six days after Jingshan. Our report covers his day and the second retirement.