Daniil Medvedev defaulted from China Open after hitting spectator with ball
Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from his China Open semi-final match against Novak Djokovic after striking a spectator in the face with a ball. Djokovic subsequently advanced to the tournament final.
First reported 1 hour ago · latest update 1 hour ago
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 sitting 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.
"Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all," Medvedev said.
"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."
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."
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Medvedev defaulted for hitting spectator with ball
Daniil Medvedev is defaulted from the China Open after hitting a spectator in the face with a ball during his semi-final against Novak Djokovic.
1 hour agoMedvedev defaulted for hitting spectator with ball as Djokovic makes Beijing final
Daniil Medvedev was defaulted for hitting a spectator with a ball as Novak Djokovic took his impeccable record at the China Open to 33-0 and moved one win away from a first title of 2026.
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