Medvedev disqualified from China Open semi-final after ball strikes spectator
Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from Monday's China Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic after a ball he hit into the stands struck a spectator, officials ruled. Djokovic was serving for a place in the final when the ball ricocheted off the back of the court and Medvedev swiped it into the crowd; the default was applied under rules that bar a player from "hitting a ball dangerously or recklessly, or with negligent disregard of the consequences."
Medvedev has repeatedly contrasted his off-court temperament with his on-court behaviour, once saying you would need to knock on his hotel door at 6am for seven days in a row to make him angry. He told the 2019 US Open: "I can only say I'm a really calm person in life - I actually have no idea why the demons go out when I play tennis," and was fined at that tournament for snatching a towel from a ball person and making an offensive gesture to fans inside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Reflecting on post-match emotions at that year's ATP Finals, he said: "All my temper goes away after I leave the tennis court. If I'm not happy with my practice, I step out of the court and five minutes later, I'm OK."
The immediate incident in Beijing began when the ball ricocheted off the back of the court and Medvedev struck it into the stands, where it hit a spectator in the face. Match officials conferred and issued the default a few minutes later under the cited dangerous-play regulation.
Medvedev's on-court temperament has frequently drawn attention alongside his post-match media presence; the article notes he "has made a habit of arguing with umpires and occasionally taunting the crowd" while also being "very popular with the media for his engaging, reflective and humorous interviews once the dust has settled." The report adds that "players have got away with worse" in other incidents.
Earlier episodes cited include the 2017 Wimbledon second-round match in which a 21-year-old Medvedev sprinkled coins at umpire Mariana Alves as she climbed down from the chair; he later apologised and denied he was accusing her of bias. Two years ago at Wimbledon, officials considered defaulting him for an outburst towards umpire Eva Asderaki-Moore; Medvedev said he had said something in Russian that was "not pleasant, but not over the line," and after discussion received a code violation rather than a default.
The report records further sanctions and incidents in 2025: he was fined more than £60,000 for behaviour at the Australian Open, including an attempt to destroy a net camera, and had a high-profile meltdown at the US Open. In New York, with Benjamin Bonzi holding match point, a photographer walked onto court between serves and umpire Greg Allensworth awarded Bonzi another first serve; Medvedev accused Allensworth of "hoping to engineer a quick finish - as he gets paid by the match, rather than the hour." Medvedev saved the match point but lost in five sets and then "obliterated his racquet by smashing it repeatedly against the table next to his chair," and was heavily fined for his behaviour at that US Open.
As a result of the default, Medvedev will lose all the prize money and ranking points he earned from his run to the semi-finals in Beijing. The 30-year-old has apologised for his actions and said he hopes to say sorry to the spectator in person.
In New York a month ago Medvedev said his eldest daughter has "my personality on the court," adding: "I took her to practice once. She's happy, so she throws the racquet through the whole court. The coach looks at me and says: 'I don't know where she got this from...'" He also said: "All the people that talk about that I should control myself more - she's three years old. It's not like we taught her to do the things she's doing on the court." He remains in the eighth and final qualifying spot for November's ATP Finals, but the loss of 200 points could yet prove crucial.