Medvedev Defaulted at China Open After Ball Strikes Spectator in Djokovic Semi-Final

Daniil Medvedev's China Open ended in a default on Monday after he smacked a rebounding ball into the front row of the Beijing crowd, striking a spectator in the eye during his semi-final against Novak Djokovic. The world No. 5 was trailing 7-5, 5-3 when the chair umpire and an ATP supervisor defaulted him, sending Djokovic — who suffered the same fate at the 2020 US Open — through to face Alex de Minaur in the final, as reported by Al Jazeera.

The incident unfolded in a flash. Djokovic had just won a point with a forehand volley; the ball bounced off the advertising boards and came back towards Medvedev, who swiped at it with a backhand that sailed into the stands. The spectator, seated in the front row, clutched his left eye in apparent pain as he was helped out of the arena holding a hand over it. Medvedev stood on the court watching, then walked to the net to shake Djokovic's hand after the officials delivered the default.

Djokovic's sympathy, and a painful memory

Djokovic, who knows exactly what this feels like, was full of sympathy. "A bit of a shock, to be honest," he said. "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."

The reference was unmistakable: Djokovic was kicked out of the 2020 US Open for accidentally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball — a default that remains the most famous in modern tennis. On Monday, the roles were reversed, and the 38-year-old Serb was the one advancing by default.

Medvedev himself insisted there was no intent. "It was 100 per cent an accident," he said afterwards. "You can see that I didn't hit the ball in anger. The ball was bouncing back, so I tried to just hit it anywhere, so it wouldn't go out of the court. When I saw the result, I felt horrible. The most important thing is I hope that he's OK." He added that he was trying to get in touch with the spectator to apologise personally.

A costly two minutes

Disqualification means he forfeits the 200 ranking points and roughly £166,000 in prize money he had earned for reaching the last four in Beijing, and it weakens his position in the Race to the ATP Finals in Turin: he had sat comfortably eighth with a 530-point cushion over ninth-placed de Minaur, but the Australian — who now plays the final — could cut that advantage to just 160 points if he lifts the trophy, according to SPORTbible's breakdown of the sanctions. He can appeal the sanction, but the points will not be restored unless he wins that appeal.

The default could also cost him seeding comfort heading into the Shanghai Masters, where Alexander Zverev is the top seed ahead of Carlos Alcaraz. Medvedev will enter as the No. 5 seed — still a strong draw, but the momentum of a deep Beijing run has been wiped out.

Medvedev has history here, and not the good kind. His first career default came at the 2016 Savannah Challenger after a heated exchange with chair umpire Sandy French over a baseline call against Donald Young. Earlier this season he was fined €6,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct after smashing his racket seven times during a 6-0, 6-0 defeat to Matteo Berrettini at the Monte Carlo Masters.

Two semi-finals, two premature endings

It was an extraordinary day in Beijing all round. The earlier semi-final also ended prematurely: Hubert Hurkacz retired with an adductor injury while trailing Alex de Minaur 6-4, 3-2, after struggling with his movement throughout the match. So the China Open final — Djokovic against de Minaur on Tuesday — will be contested by two men who each advanced without playing a full semi-final.

For Djokovic, the win sets up a chance to add another title to a glittering late-career run; his Beijing appearances have been eagerly watched since his victory over Alexander Zverev in the quarter-finals. For the tournament, meanwhile, a controversy already hanging over the event has been followed by a second one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why was Daniil Medvedev disqualified from the China Open?

After losing a point while trailing Novak Djokovic 7-5, 5-3, Medvedev hit a ball that rebounded off the advertising boards into the front-row crowd, striking a spectator in the eye. Under ATP rules, striking a spectator with a ball is an automatic default. The chair umpire and tournament supervisor confirmed the decision on court.

Did Medvedev mean to hit the spectator?

Medvedev insists it was accidental: "It was 100 per cent an accident. You can see that I didn't hit the ball in anger. The ball was bouncing back, so I tried to just hit it anywhere." He said he was trying to contact the spectator to apologise.

What does the default cost him?

He forfeits 200 ranking points and roughly £166,000 in prize money from Beijing, and it weakens his grip on a qualifying spot for the ATP Finals in Turin, where he led ninth-placed Alex de Minaur by 530 Race points before the tournament.

Who will Djokovic play in the final?

Alex de Minaur, who was leading Hubert Hurkacz 6-4, 3-2 in the other semi-final when the Pole retired with an adductor injury. The final is scheduled for Tuesday in Beijing.

Has this happened before in tennis?

Yes. The most famous recent case is Djokovic himself, defaulted from the 2020 US Open for accidentally hitting a line judge in the throat with a ball. Medvedev was also defaulted once before, at the 2016 Savannah Challenger, after arguing with the chair umpire.