Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic on Monday after hitting a spectator in the face with a ball. The incident occurred during a crucial moment when Djokovic was serving for a place in the final, leading 7-5, 5-3, securing Djokovic’s progression to the championship match.

Medvedev’s Disqualification and Apology

The disqualification came after Medvedev, in frustration, swiped a ball that had ricocheted off the back wall into the stands, striking a spectator around the left eye. The individual required assistance to leave the arena and was subsequently taken to hospital, according to Sky Sports. Under rules prohibiting players from “hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly, or with negligent disregard of the consequences,” Medvedev was defaulted.

Following the incident, the Russian world No 5 expressed his regret, stating, “Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all. Hopefully I can apologise in person. I just hope he’s OK. That’s the most important.” He clarified that the action was “100 per cent an accident,” adding, “You can see I didn’t hit the ball in anger. I do a lot of bad things but usually ball abuse is not my thing.” As a result of the disqualification, Medvedev will lose all prize money and ranking points earned from his run to the semi-finals in Beijing. The BBC reported that he remains in the eighth and final qualifying spot for November’s ATP Finals, though the loss of 200 points could prove crucial.

A History of On-Court Temper

This incident adds to Daniil Medvedev’s already established fiery reputation on court. At Wimbledon in 2017, a 21-year-old Medvedev was fined for sprinkling coins at umpire Mariana Alves’s feet. Two years ago, again at Wimbledon, he faced a discussion between officials after an outburst towards umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore, escaping with a code violation. The Guardian notes his temperament has flared on numerous occasions, including a $42,500 fine at the 2025 US Open for reacting angrily to a photographer interrupting a match point, and a £54,000 fine at the 2025 Australian Open for smashing a net camera with his racket. He also destroyed a racquet by smashing it repeatedly at the 2025 US Open.

Djokovic Advances, Reflects on Incident

Novak Djokovic, a six-time champion at the China Open, extends his unbeaten record at the tournament to 33-0 with this progression to the final. Djokovic expressed his shock at the incident, saying, “I am sorry for the person. I hope the person is not badly injured.” He also showed empathy for Medvedev, stating, “I also feel sorry for Daniil because I know exactly how it feels to be disqualified in a big match. I’m sure Daniil didn’t want to do this intentionally.” Djokovic himself was disqualified from the US Open in 2020 under similar circumstances, as reported by The Guardian.

The Serb, who saved 16 of the 18 break points he faced against Medvedev, will now meet Australia’s Alex de Minaur in Tuesday’s final. De Minaur advanced after his opponent, Hubert Hurkacz, retired with an adductor injury while trailing 6-4, 3-2 in their semi-final. This match marks Djokovic’s first final since the Hellenic Championship almost a year ago. Readers can find more details on significant sporting events in our Weekly Sports Roundup 2025: Historic Wins, Broken Records, and Unforgettable Moments.