Medvedev apologises after default for striking spectator with ball at China Open

Daniil Medvedev apologised on Oct. 6, 2026 after being defaulted from his China Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic when a ball he hit into the stands struck a spectator. The disqualification ended Medvedev’s China Open campaign and allowed Djokovic to progress to the final.

The incident occurred while Djokovic was serving for the match at 7-5, 5-3, when Medvedev hit the ball away in frustration after it bounced back toward him and sent it into the first row, apparently striking a fan near the eye. The spectator received immediate medical attention and was escorted out of the stands. Medvedev then spoke with match officials, who decided to default him.

After the default Medvedev apologised to the spectator, saying: "I feel terribly sorry for him actually and I just hope he's okay," Medvedev said following the incident. "That's the most important. The rest, we move on. I just really care about him right now. Hopefully I can meet him and make up for it somehow."

Medvedev described the contact as unintentional and expanded on the circumstances in a separate statement: "It was 100 per cent an accident," Medvedev shared. "You can see that I didn't hit the ball in anger The ball was bouncing back, so I tried to just hit it anywhere, so it wouldn't go out of the court. "When I saw the result, I felt horrible because, again, I don't think I was ever close to such a situation. The most important thing is I hope that he's okay, because you never know with these types of situations."

The incident overshadowed what the report described as a clinical display from Djokovic and ended a match in which Medvedev said he had missed chances, praising his opponent: "It was a tough match for me," Medvedev admitted. "He played really well. I felt he played like when we played our best matches. I had some opportunities, which I missed. He played incredibly, so I think he has big chances in the final."

The default also cost Medvedev the rewards from his semifinal appearance: he was stripped of 200 ATP ranking points and the associated prize money, with reports estimating the lost payout at around USD 219,295.

Djokovic advances to the China Open final and is one win away from his 102nd tour-level title.