China Open: Daniil Medvedev defaulted from Novak Djokovic match after hitting spectator with ball

Daniil Medvedev was defaulted from the China Open after hitting a spectator within the face with a ball throughout his semi-final in opposition to Novak Djokovic.

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

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

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

After talking with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP official, Russia’s Medvedev approached the web to shake palms with Djokovic.

Djokovic – who was defaulted from the 2020 US Open for the same incident – expressed sympathy for the fan and Medvedev afterwards.

“It’s a little bit of a shock to be sincere. I hope that particular person is just not badly injured,” he stated.

“I additionally really feel sorry for Daniil. I do know precisely how he feels to be disqualified in an enormous match.

“I’m positive that Daniil didn’t need to do that deliberately.”

Medvedev will now lose the factors and prize cash he had earned throughout his run to the final 4 in Beijing.

The 30-year-old is a flamable character who has struggled to regulate his feelings all through his profession.

He had a meltdown eventually 12 months’s US Open when a photographer walked on court docket, and was fined nearly £31,500 ($42,500) for his behaviour.

In April, he obliterated a racquet after shedding 6-0 6-0 on the Monte Carlo Masters and was once more fined for unsportsmanlike conduct.

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

“When I’m on the court docket I hate to lose; I like to win. My first purpose is to win the match, so it brings numerous adrenaline out and it brings all of the power out,” he stated.

“Sometimes it’s a good power. Sometimes it’s a unhealthy one.”