Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semifinal against Novak Djokovic on Monday after inadvertently striking a spectator in the eye with a tennis ball. The incident occurred in Beijing as Djokovic was leading 7-5, 5-3 late in the match. Medvedev hit a ball into the front row following a rebound off the court’s advertising boards, and the fan was assisted out of the arena holding his left eye.
Medvedev, who trailed Djokovic and had just lost a point, struck the ball in frustration but emphasized that it was an accident, not an act of anger. “Terribly sorry to the spectator,” he said after the match. “I just hope he’s okay. Hopefully, I can meet him and make up for it somehow.” The Russian player expressed remorse and said he was trying to contact the injured spectator to apologize in person.
The chair umpire and tournament supervisor intervened shortly after the incident, leading to Medvedev’s default from the match. Medvedev accepted the ruling without dispute and shook Djokovic’s hand at the net before leaving the court.
Djokovic, who extended his unbeaten record at the China Open to 33-0, expressed sympathy for both Medvedev and the injured fan. He referenced his own 2020 U.S. Open disqualification under similar circumstances when he accidentally struck a line judge with a ball. “I hope the person is not badly injured,” Djokovic said. “On the other hand, I also feel sorry for Daniil because I know exactly how it feels to be disqualified in a big match. I am sure Daniil didn’t want to do this unintentionally. It just happens.”
Medvedev’s on-court behavior has previously drawn attention. Earlier this year, he was fined in Monte Carlo for racket abuse during a heavy defeat. In 2025, he faced a substantial fine for unsportsmanlike conduct related to an extended delay and confrontation with a tournament photographer. Despite these incidents, Medvedev maintained that ball abuse is not typical for him and that the recent episode was purely accidental.
The disqualification marked a sudden and unusual end to an intense and competitive contest between two former world No. 1 players. Djokovic will face Australia’s Alex de Minaur in the final, after de Minaur advanced due to Hubert Hurkacz retiring with an injury during their semifinal.
Officials have noted a trend in tennis where default decisions hinge on whether ball abuse incidents cause harm to spectators. While some players in recent matches have struck balls or thrown rackets into the stands without facing disqualification, Medvedev’s case differs due to the direct impact on a fan.
The incident underscores ongoing discussions in the sport about player conduct, spectator safety, and the consistency of officiating disciplinary actions.