Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from his China Open semifinal on Monday in Beijing after hitting a ball that struck a spectator. Novak Djokovic was leading 7-5, 5-3 when the match ended, and he advanced to the final.
Medvedev has since apologized. This is the clearest example of a rule doing what it was written to do, whether anyone likes the outcome or not.
What Happened on Court
According to reports, Medvedev hit a ball toward the stands and it hit a fan in the front row. Umpire Mohamed Lahyani enforced the default, per reports. Tennis365 recorded the score at 5-7, 3-5, 15-15 from Medvedev’s side, after 2 hours and 24 minutes. The spectator was reported to have left with a hand over one eye.
Medvedev says it was an accident. “The ball was bouncing back, so I tried to just hit it anywhere, so it doesn’t go out from the court,” he said. “When I saw the result, I felt horrible.” He added: “100% accident. You can see that I didn’t hit the ball in anger.”
That second line is the part that is in dispute among outlets covering the match. One report described the shot as out of frustration. Medvedev’s own account is the on-record statement, and no official has said otherwise in anything I found.
The Apology
“Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all,” he said. “I’m trying to get in touch with him, if he wants it.” He also said: “I feel horrible, I’m terribly sorry and would like to meet him and apologise in person if he wants to.”
He also said, “The most important, I hope that he’s okay ’cause you never know with these types of situations.” The spectator’s condition has not been detailed by the tournament or by Medvedev. No one has said who the fan is.
Djokovic Knows This Feeling
Djokovic was defaulted from the 2020 US Open for hitting a line judge with a ball. He said afterward: “I also feel sorry for Daniil. I know exactly how he feels to be disqualified in a big match.” Coming from him, that is credible.
The rule is what makes this clean. A default applies when a player hits an official, a staff member or a spectator, regardless of intent. That is the right standard, because chair umpires cannot be asked to read minds in real time. It protects the fans in the front row, and it is applied the same way to everyone.
As for consequences, reports say Medvedev forfeits the prize money and ranking points from the tournament. No separate fine has been announced by the ATP or the tournament in the coverage I reviewed. Neither has any further penalty. Djokovic faces Alex de Minaur in the final.
A longtime sports reporter, Carlos Garcia has written about some of the biggest and most notable athletic events of the last 5 years. He has been credentialed to cover MLS, NBA and MLB games all over the United States. His work has been published on Fox Sports, Bleacher Report, AOL and the Washington Post.