Daniil Medvedev saw his China Open campaign come to an abrupt end during his semi-final match against Novak Djokovic. The third seed was disqualified after hitting a spectator in the face with a ball, a serious breach of the sport’s conduct regulations that resulted in an immediate default. I am sure that Daniil did not want to do this intentionally.
The incident occurred while Medvedev trailed 7-5, 5-3. After Djokovic hit a winner that went beyond him, the ball ricocheted off the back of the court. In a moment of frustration, Medvedev swung at the ball with a backhand, sending it into the front row of the stands. A spectator was struck and had to be helped from the arena while holding his eye, clearly in pain. Third seed Medvedev trailed Djokovic 7-5 5-3 when the Serb hit a winner beyond him for 15-15. If he wants it, i’m trying to get in touch with him. I just really care about him right now.
Following consultations with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP official, Medvedev approached the net to concede the match to Djokovic. Although tournament defaults are rare, the severity of the offense warranted an instant disqualification rather than a tiered code violation process. Consequently, Medvedev will forfeit all prize money and ranking points earned throughout the Beijing tournament.
Reflecting on the event, Medvedev expressed deep regret for the fan’s injury. “Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all,” he stated, adding that he hopes to apologize in person and verify the individual’s condition. Novak Djokovic, who previously faced a similar disqualification at the 2020 US Open, offered sympathy to both the injured spectator and his opponent. “It’s a bit of a shock to be honest. I hope that person is not badly injured,” Djokovic said, noting that he is certain the incident was unintentional. Hopefully I can apologise in person and see how he feels.
This is not the first time Medvedev has faced disciplinary scrutiny for his on-court temper. The 30-year-old has a history of outbursts, including a significant meltdown at last year’s US Open that resulted in a £31,500 ($42,500) fine after a confrontation involving a photographer. Earlier this year at the Monte Carlo Masters, he was also fined for unsportsmanlike conduct after destroying a racquet following a 6-0, 6-0 defeat. Physical or verbal abuse, or racquet abuse, violations include ball abuse.
In a 2025 interview, Medvedev acknowledged his efforts to manage his volatile on-court persona. He explained that his intense desire to win often triggers surges of adrenaline and energy, which he admitted can sometimes manifest in destructive ways. Despite these efforts at self-improvement, this latest incident marks another major setback for the Russian player’s professional reputation.
