Medvedev Disqualified at China Open After Ball Hits Spectator
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open during his semi-final match against Novak Djokovic after accidentally hitting a spectator in the face with a ball.
The third seed was trailing Djokovic 7-5, 5-3 when Djokovic struck a winner beyond him to bring the score to 15-15. In frustration, Medvedev swiped at a backhand, sending the ball into the air where it struck a fan sitting in the front row behind the court.
The spectator immediately doubled over, clutching his face and eye, before being assisted out of the arena.
After conferring with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP official, Medvedev approached the net to shake hands with Djokovic and expressed regret.
"Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all," Medvedev 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. I just hope he's OK. That's the most important. I just really care about him right now."
Novak Djokovic, who faced a similar disqualification at the 2020 US Open, showed sympathy for both the fan and Medvedev.
"It's a bit of a shock to be honest. I hope that person is not badly injured," Djokovic said. "I also feel sorry for Daniil. I know exactly how he feels to be disqualified in a big match. I'm sure that Daniil did not want to do this intentionally."
Understanding Defaults in Tennis
Defaults happen rarely and only when players break tennis code of conduct rules. These include ball abuse, verbal or physical abuse, or racquet abuse. Usually, players receive up to three code violations before disqualification, but Medvedev's incident was severe enough to cause an immediate default.
This means Medvedev will lose all points and prize money earned during his run to the semifinals in Beijing.
At 30 years old, Medvedev has a reputation for struggling to manage his emotions on court. Last year at the US Open, he had an outburst when a photographer stepped onto the court, resulting in a fine of nearly £31,500 ($42,500). Earlier this year, he smashed a racquet after a 6-0, 6-0 loss at the Monte Carlo Masters and faced further penalties for unsportsmanlike conduct.
In 2025, Medvedev told BBC Sport he was working to control his behavior on court.
"When I'm on the court I hate to lose; I love to win. My first goal is to win the match, so it brings a lot of adrenaline out and all the energy out," he said. "Sometimes it is a good energy. Sometimes it is a bad one."
Djokovic Advances to Final
The early ending stopped a thrilling match between the veteran 39-year-old Djokovic and his younger opponent. Djokovic played impressively, saving 16 of 18 break points, and will face Alex de Minaur in Tuesday's final.
- Djokovic's China Open Record: 33-0
- Titles Won: Six times
- Recent Finals: First final since Australian Open (lost to Carlos Alcaraz)
Djokovic reached Wimbledon semifinals but lost to eventual champion Jannik Sinner. He exited the French Open in the third round and suffered a surprise first-round loss at the US Open.
Other Tournament Highlights
Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz battled inconsistencies but defeated Jaume Munar to reach the Japan Open final. The seven-time Grand Slam winner struggled with his serve early but improved to win 5-7, 6-3, 6-1.
Alcaraz lost momentum late in the first set, dropping 16 consecutive points after serving for the opener at 5-3.
He will meet Jiri Lehecka in the final, following Lehecka's 6-4, 6-2 win over Monaco's Valentin Vacherot.
