Daniil Medvedev disqualified from China Open semi for hitting spectator

Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open semi-final on Monday after accidentally hitting a spectator with a tennis ball during his match against Novak Djokovic, leaving the Serbian one victory away from a first title of 2026. The incident occurred in the second set of the encounter, with Djokovic leading 7-5, 5-3 when Medvedev sent a backhand into the crowd, striking a spectator and triggering an immediate default. Djokovic advanced to the final with a 7-5, 5-3 scoreline, maintaining his perfect 33-0 record at the Beijing event.

The sequence of events unfolded when Djokovic, leading 7-5, 5-3, hit a winner that ricocheted off the backboard. Medvedev, frustrated, swiped at the ball with his backhand, sending it into the stands behind the court. The ball struck a spectator in the front row, causing the fan to clutch his face and be escorted from the arena by stadium staff. The chair umpire, Mohamed Lahyani, and an ATP official reviewed the incident before disqualifying Medvedev, who then shook hands with Djokovic at the net.

Djokovic, who was defaulted from the 2020 US Open for hitting a line judge with a ball, expressed shock and sympathy for the injured spectator and Medvedev. “A bit of a shock, to be honest. Sorry for the person (who was hit). I honestly didn’t see what happened. I hope that person is not badly injured,” Djokovic said. “On the other hand, I also feel sorry for Daniil, because I know exactly how he feels to be disqualified in a big match. I was disqualified at the 2020 US Open in similar circumstances. I am sure that Daniil didn’t want to do this intentionally. It just happens.”

Medvedev, who had been playing well against the 39-year-old Djokovic, issued a detailed apology after the match. “Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all,” he said. “I’m trying to get in touch with him, if he wants it. Hopefully I can apologise in person and see how he feels.” He confirmed the incident was unintentional, stating, “Yeah, I mean, 100% accident. You can see that I didn’t hit the ball in anger. Actually I do a lot of bad things, but usually ball abuse is not my thing. The ball was bouncing back, so I tried to, like, just hit it anywhere, so it doesn’t go out from the court.”

The incident marked a rare but severe penalty in tennis, as defaults typically require multiple code violations. Medvedev’s action—classified as ball abuse—was deemed serious enough for immediate ejection. Djokovic, meanwhile, will face Alex de Minaur in the final after the Australian defeated Hubert Hurkacz, who retired injured during their semi-final. Djokovic’s dominance at the China Open remains unshaken, with a 33-0 record and six titles since 2009. However, his recent form has been inconsistent, with a drop out of the top 10 and a recent medical condition affecting his performance. The Beijing tournament, however, has reignited his momentum, with the final offering a chance to secure his 102nd career title.

Medvedev’s disqualification means he loses all points and prize money from the tournament, impacting his ranking and the Race for Turin standings. The Russian also faces potential disciplinary action from the ATP for the incident, though no formal sanctions were mentioned in the sources. Medvedev’s on-court outbursts are not new, including a 2025 meltdown at the US Open after a photographer intruded on court and a 2023 incident where he smashed a racquet during a loss. Despite efforts to manage his behavior, the China Open incident underscores his struggle with composure under pressure.

Djokovic extended his unbeaten record at the event to 32 matches, according to a Yahoo Sports report, surpassing Rafael Nadal’s open-era record for a men’s event of 31 at the French Open. The Serbian had gone to the well to record one of his best results of the season on Sunday when he outlasted Alexander Zverev in a thriller. After the second set began on serve, Djokovic sensed his moment and broke to move 4-2 in front before Medvedev requested a medical timeout. Medvedev carried on but, at 15-15 with Djokovic 5-3 up, the world number five let out his frustration and sent a backhand into the crowd, leading to the third seed being disqualified and sealing Djokovic’s 33rd win in Beijing.

For Medvedev, the fallout extends beyond the tournament. The loss of ranking points and the public scrutiny of his conduct could further complicate his efforts to regain stability. As the tennis world watches the final, questions linger about the long-term impact of the incident on his career and the broader conversation about player behavior in high-stakes matches. The injured spectator’s condition remains undisclosed, but the incident has reignited debates about athlete responsibility and the consequences of momentary lapses in judgment.