--- title: "Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev disqualified from China Open semi-final match" url: https://noti.group/russian-tennis-player-daniil-medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open/ language: en publisher: "Noti Group" section: "Sports" published: 2026-10-05T14:35:43.000Z updated: 2026-10-05T16:24:07.322Z id: 57faa8b5-3e3e-46ad-a307-cb73cde45078 source: "The Guardian Sport https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/05/daniil-medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-semi-after-hitting-fan-with-ball" attribution: "Link to https://noti.group/russian-tennis-player-daniil-medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open/ and name Noti Group when you quote or summarize this story." --- # Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev disqualified from China Open semi-final match Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final match against Novak Djokovic after hitting a ball into the crowd that struck an unsuspecting spectator in the eye. Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semi-final match against Novak Djokovic after hitting a ball into the crowd that struck an unsuspecting spectator in the eye. The incident occurred on Monday when Medvedev was trailing 7-5, 5-3 and had lost a point. He hit the rebounding ball with force, causing it to fly back into the stands where a fan sitting in the first row was struck. Medvedev apologized for the incident, saying it was "100% an accident and that he wished to apologize in person to the injured spectator. He claimed the ball was bouncing unpredictably and he had tried to hit it anywhere to prevent it from going out of bounds. The disqualification marks another high-profile incident in Medvedev's career, where his temper has often gotten the better of him. In May, at the Monte Carlo Open, he smashed his racket several times and left it in a courtside dustbin after being thrashed 6-0, 6-0 by Matteo Berrettini. The crowd was stunned as the spectator clutched his eye in pain and was escorted out of the stadium by staff. Medvedev's apology has little impact on the outcome of the match, however, as Djokovic advances to the final against Alex De Minaur. Medvedev's history of on-court outbursts is well-documented, with a notable incident occurring at the 2025 US Open. During Benjamin Bonzi's serve for match point, a photographer interrupted play, prompting Medvedev to lose his temper and incur a $42,500 fine. The Russian player's behavior was not limited to verbal abuse; he also took issue with the umpire, causing a delay of over six minutes in play. In a post-match interview, Medvedev acknowledged that his actions were unacceptable, stating that he wanted to do worse but was restrained by the rules and the tennis environment. Medvedev's antics continued at the 2025 Australian Open, where he smashed a net camera with his racket on multiple occasions, resulting in a £54,000 fine, one of the largest penalties ever handed out in a grand slam tournament. The Russian player also had to foot the bill for the damaged equipment. Djokovic, who has himself been disqualified from a major event under similar circumstances, expressed sympathy for Medvedev's predicament. The sixth seed acknowledged that being ejected from a high-stakes match can be a difficult experience and suggested that Medvedev did not intend to cause harm to the spectator. The premature end of both semi-finals at the China Open added to the drama of the tournament. Earlier in the day, Hubert Hurkacz retired with an adductor injury, while Alex de Minaur's opponent was leading their match 6-4, 3-2 when he decided to withdraw due to ongoing struggles with movement throughout the contest. Carlos Alcaraz continued his impressive form in Tokyo by reaching the Japan Open final after overcoming early wobbles on his serve against fellow Spaniard Jaume Munar. The defending champion won the match 5-7, 6-3, 6-1, taking a significant step towards claiming his first singles title since recovering from a wrist injury. Alcaraz's victory was not without its challenges, as he struggled with his service games in the opening set before finding his rhythm. Alcaraz attributed his struggles in the first set to an inexplicable lapse in form, stating that he don't know what happened" and that it seems like he consistently falters at this stage of matches. However, he was pleased with his ability to recover from this setback. The 23-year-old will now face Jiri Lehecka in Tuesday's final, having already demonstrated his resilience during the Laver Cup campaign last month where Team Europe emerged victorious under his leadership. --- Source: [The Guardian Sport](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/oct/05/daniil-medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open-semi-after-hitting-fan-with-ball) Published by Noti Group: https://noti.group/russian-tennis-player-daniil-medvedev-disqualified-from-china-open/