Daniil Medvedev’s on-court controversies: From racquet smashing to throwing coins

Medvedev’s disqualification during the China Open 2026 semifinal adds to a long pattern of disciplinary cases, including past fines for wallet-throwing at Wimbledon in 2017, towel-snatching and obscenities at the 2019 US Open and more.

Updated : Oct 05, 2026 23:25 IST , Chennai - 4 MINS READ

Daniil Medvedev was disqualified after his frustrations resulted in a fan getting injured during his China Open 2026 semifinal against Novak Djokovic. | Photo Credit: AP

Daniil Medvedev was disqualified after his frustrations resulted in a fan getting injured during his China Open 2026 semifinal against Novak Djokovic on Monday.

The instance took place when Medvedev was defaulted for hitting a ball into the stands, and that same ball then struck a fan in the face. This was after losing a point when Djokovic was serving for the match at 7-5, 5-3. The fan was then provided with medical assistance and promptly escorted away from the stands.

Daniil Medvedev was then defaulted as Djokovic entered the summit clash of the tournament.

ALSO READ: Medvedev disqualified after ball strikes fan during China Open semifinal against Djokovic

Here is a list of Daniil Medvedev’s most notable on-court misdemeanours:

2017 – Wimbledon

After a five‑set second‑round loss to Ruben Bemelmans, Medvedev, angry at several calls by chair umpire Mariana Alves, emptied his wallet and threw coins toward her chair. He also asked for her to be replaced during the decider.

Penalty: Medvedev was slapped with a fine of USD 14,500 for his conduct (USD 4,000 for his official warning, USD 3,000 for a point penalty and USD 7,500 for unsportsmanlike conduct).

2019 – US Open

The incidents took place during a third‑round win over Feliciano López, where Medvedev was seen snatching a towel from a ball person which earned him a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct.

He later made an obscene gesture to the crowd in Arthur Ashe Stadium. He later told a booing crowd: “The more you do this, the more I win.”

Penalty: This incident saw a total fine of USD 9,000 slapped on him (USD 5,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and USD 4,000 for a visible obscenity).

2025 – Australian Open

During his first‑round match, Medvedev had an incident during the game where he broke a small on‑court/net camera with his tennis racket out of frustration.

Furthermore, in his second‑round loss to American teen Learner Tien, he had a plethora of outbursts, involving angry exchanges and repeated tennis racquet misuse.

Penalty: Medvedev was hit with a combined fine USD 76,000 (USD 10,000 for smashing his racquet into the net and damaging the attached camera in the first round, and USD 66,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second round, including throwing his racquet towards the sideline and skipping the mandatory post‑match press conference). Moreover, he was also ordered to pay for the replacement camera, estimated at around USD 30,000.

2025 – US Open

In a first‑round loss to Benjamin Bonzi, a photographer walked onto the court during a match point. Chair umpire Greg Allensworth then awarded Bonzi a second first serve.

This sparked a roughly six‑minute tirade from Medvedev, which involved in him berating the umpire, riling up the crowd who was in support of Bonzi’s second-serve decision. He further went on to say that official “gets paid by the match, not by the hour”. This was followed by Medvedev returning to his seat and smashing his racquet on the chair post Bonzi’s win.

Penalty: Fined USD 42,500 in total (USD 30,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and USD 12,500 for racquet abuse).

2026 – Monte-Carlo Masters

After a 6–0, 6–0, loss to Matteo Berrettini, Medvedev was reported to have smashed his racquet a total of seven times into the clay court and followed it up by discarding it in a bin in a visible tantrum.

Penalty: Received a code violation for unsportsmanlike conduct and was fined 6,000 euros (approx. USD 7,000) by the ATP for unwarranted tennis racquet destruction.