Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open semifinal after hitting a ball into the crowd and injuring a spectator, the BBC and Reuters reported.

The incident happened during his match against Novak Djokovic in Beijing on Monday. Medvedev smashed the ball in anger after a long, high-quality rally.

The ball struck a fan in the face. Officials ruled it an automatic default under tennis rules.

Djokovic advanced to the final as a result. Medvedev had been playing some of his best tennis before the outburst.

The disqualification is one of the biggest defaults of the season. Medvedev has a history of on-court anger, though rarely with such serious consequences.

The spectator received medical attention at the venue. Tournament officials said player and fan safety remains their top priority.

The default rules leave officials no choice when a spectator is hurt. Djokovic went on to contest the final the next day.