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

Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open after hitting a spectator in the face with a ball during his semi-final against Novak Djokovic.

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.

After speaking with umpire Mohamed Lahyani and an ATP official, Russia's Medvedev approached the net to shake hands with Djokovic.

"I'm trying to get in touch with him, if he wants it. Hopefully I can apologise in person and see how he feels.

Djokovic - who was defaulted from the 2020 US Open for a similar incident - expressed sympathy for the fan and Medvedev afterwards.

"I also feel sorry for Daniil. I know exactly how he feels to be disqualified in a big match.

Defaults in tennis are rare and only occur when players violate the sport's code of conduct.

He will now lose the points and prize money he had earned in Beijing - a run that would have seen him return to inside the world's top five.

He had a meltdown at last year's US Open when a photographer walked on court, and was fined almost £31,500 ($42,500) for his behaviour.

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

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The default brought an early end to an excellent contest, with 39-year-old Djokovic having played superbly to outlast an opponent nine years his junior.