Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic on 5 October 2026 after striking a spectator in the face with a tennis ball during an emotional moment on court. The third-seeded Russian, who trailed 7-5 5-3 at the time of the incident, will forfeit all ranking points and prize money earned during his run to the semi-finals in Beijing.
The incident occurred when Djokovic struck a winner beyond Medvedev at 15-15 in the second set. Medvedev reacted with frustration, swiping at a backhand in annoyance and sending the ball skyward. The ball ricocheted off the back wall and struck a spectator seated in the front row of the stand directly behind the court. The fan doubled over while holding his face, and officials assisted him from the arena as he continued to hold his eye.
After consulting with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP official, Medvedev approached the net to shake hands with Djokovic, accepting the default decision. Djokovic, who himself was defaulted from the 2020 US Open for a similar incident, expressed sympathy for 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. "I also feel sorry for Daniil. I know exactly how he feels to be disqualified in a big match. I am sure that Daniil did not want to do this intentionally."
Medvedev's History of On-Court Outbursts
The 30-year-old Russian has developed a reputation for volatile behaviour during matches. Medvedev entered the semi-final on a seven-match winning streak after capturing the Hangzhou title, but his emotional intensity on court has repeatedly led to disciplinary action. At last year's US Open, he had a significant meltdown when a photographer walked onto the court, resulting in a fine of nearly £31,500 ($42,500) for unsportsmanlike conduct.
In April 2026, Medvedev lost 6-0 6-0 to Matteo Berrettini at the Monte Carlo Masters and smashed his racket in frustration, earning another fine for his behaviour. Despite these incidents, Medvedev has acknowledged his struggles with emotional control and stated his commitment to improvement.
"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 it brings all the energy out," he said in 2025. "Sometimes it is a good energy. Sometimes it is a bad one."
Djokovic's Path to the Final
Djokovic reached the semi-final by defeating top seed Alexander Zverev 4-6, 6-4, 6-4 in a high-intensity quarter-final match, marking his seventh China Open semi-final and the 202nd semi-final of his career. The Serbian champion now advances to the final, where he will face the winner of the other semi-final. Djokovic leads his head-to-head record against Medvedev 10-5, having dominated their matchups in recent years.
Key Facts
- Medvedev was defaulted from the China Open semi-final after hitting a spectator with a ball during his match against Djokovic on 5 October 2026
- The incident occurred when Medvedev swiped at a backhand in frustration, sending the ball into the front row of the stand
- Djokovic, who experienced a similar default at the 2020 US Open, expressed sympathy for both the injured fan and Medvedev
- Medvedev will lose all ranking points and prize money from his run to the semi-finals in Beijing
- The Russian player has a documented history of on-court outbursts, including racket smashing and verbal confrontations with officials
