Medvedev disqualified for hitting spectator with ball

Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from the China Open after hitting a spectator in the face with a ball during his semi-final against Novak Djokovic.

Third seed Medvedev trailed Djokovic 7-5 5-3 when the Serb hit a winner beyond him for 15-15.

The ball ricocheted off the back of the court and Medvedev swiped at a backhand in annoyance, sending the ball into the air and hitting a spectator who was sat in the front row of the stand behind him.

The fan doubled over holding his face and was still holding his eye as he was helped out of the arena.

After speaking with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP official, Russia's Medvedev approached the net to shake hands with Djokovic.

Djokovic - who was defaulted from the 2020 US Open for a similar incident - expressed sympathy for the fan and Medvedev afterwards.

"It's a bit of a shock to be honest. I hope that person is not badly injured," he 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 will now lose the points and prize money he had earned during his run to the last four in Beijing.

The 30-year-old is a combustible character who has struggled to control his emotions throughout his career.

He had a meltdown at last year's US Open when a photographer walked on court, and was fined almost £31,500 ($42,500) for his behaviour.

In April, he obliterated a racquet after losing 6-0 6-0 at the Monte Carlo Masters and was again fined for unsportsmanlike conduct.

Medvedev told BBC Sport in 2025 that he was attempting to work on his on-court behaviour.

"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.