Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semifinal against Novak Djokovic in Beijing on Monday after accidentally hitting a spectator in the face with a ball. The tournament supervisor and chair umpire intervened, ending the match while Djokovic led 7-5, 5-3 in the second set.
How the Disqualification Unfolded on Court
The semifinal match between the two former world No. 1s reached its dramatic halt at the two-hour 30-minute mark. Djokovic was serving for the match at 7-5, 5-3 when he hit a forehand volley winner past Medvedev for a 15-15 point. The ball ricocheted off the back advertising boards and bounced back toward Medvedev.
Frustrated by the point loss, Medvedev took a swipe at the rebounding ball with a backhand. The shot sent the ball into the stands, striking a male spectator sitting in the front row near his left eye. The fan doubled over in pain, holding his face and eye, before stadium staff helped him out of the arena.
Tournament officials and the chair umpire immediately came down to the court. Medvedev did not put up much of an argument against the default, walking over to the net to shake hands with Djokovic as the official ruling was applied.
During the match, Djokovic was twice caught exceeding the time limit on the serve clock. After first receiving a warning, he was stripped of his first serve on a crucial break point midway through the second set, though he still won the point. Medvedev converted only two of 18 break points during the grueling contest.
Medvedev and Djokovic React to the Incidents
Speaking after the match, Medvedev insisted the incident was entirely unintentional and expressed deep concern for the injured spectator.
“Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all. I’m trying to get in touch with him, if he wants it. Hopefully I can apologise in person and see how he feels. I just hope he’s OK. That’s the most important. I just really care about him right now. It was 100 per cent an accident.”
Daniil Medvedev
Djokovic expressed sympathy for both the spectator and his opponent, drawing an immediate parallel to his own high-profile default from the 2020 U.S. Open, where he accidentally hit a line judge in the throat with a ball.
“A bit of a shock, to be honest. I honestly didn’t see what happened. I hope that person is not badly injured. On the other hand, I also feel sorry for Daniil, because I know exactly how he feels to be disqualified in a big match. … I am sure that Daniil didn’t want to do this intentionally. It just happens.”
Novak Djokovic
Djokovic Reaches Final to Seek Seventh China Open Title
With the default, Djokovic advanced to the final and extended his career record at the China Open to 33-0. The 39-year-old Serb is aiming for his seventh title at the tournament. This follows his quarterfinal win where he rallied to defeat top-seeded Alexander Zverev on Sunday. With his ranking down to No. 11, it marks the first time in eight years that Djokovic is playing a tournament without being in the top 10, as well as his first event since a first-round exit from the U.S. Open.
Djokovic will face ninth-ranked Alex de Minaur in Tuesday’s final.
For Medvedev, the disqualification carries immediate penalties beyond ending his seven-match winning streak: he forfeits the ranking points earned during the Beijing event as well as his tournament prize money. The Russian player also carries a history of on-court behavioral issues, including a 6,000-euro ($7,000 US) fine earlier in the year for unsportsmanlike conduct after smashing his racket seven times during a 6-0, 6-0 loss to Matteo Berrettini at the Monte Carlo Masters, a $42,500 fine at the 2025 US Open for losing his temper when a photographer interrupted Benjamin Bonzi’s serve on match point, and a £54,000 fine at the 2025 Australian Open for breaking a net camera by repeatedly smashing it with his racket.