“I've never fought anyone in my life”: Daniil Medvedev opens up after Beijing disqualification

Sunday, 11 October 2026 at 06:30

Daniil Medvedev hits a forehand at the US Open first round.

Daniil Medvedev has explained why he considers himself a much calmer person away from the tennis court, following his controversial disqualification against Novak Djokovic at the China Open. Speaking to BB Tennis's YouTube channel in Shanghai, the former world No. 1 discussed the contrast between his everyday personality and the emotions that emerge when he competes.

Medvedev was defaulted from the Beijing semifinals on October 5 after hitting a rebounding ball into the stands and striking a spectator near the eye. The Russian was trailing Djokovic 7-5, 5-3 when the incident occurred, abruptly ending a match that had already lasted more than two hours.

The incident came at a difficult moment for Medvedev, whose frustration during matches has occasionally attracted attention throughout his career. However, the Russian insisted in Shanghai that his behaviour on court does not reflect how he normally conducts himself away from competition.

Medvedev has since returned to the court at the Shanghai Masters, defeating Jan-Lennard Struff 4-6, 6-4, 6-3 in his opening match. His interview offered a glimpse into how he views the difference between his competitive intensity and his personality outside tennis, although he was not directly addressing the Beijing incident.

Medvedev explains his two personalities

During the interview, the journalist pointed out how different Medvedev appears on and off the court. While he can become animated during matches, he generally presents a calmer image in the stands and gives journalists diplomatic answers.

Asked how many personalities he has, Medvedev initially suggested that there was probably only one, before acknowledging that he could be described as having two sides: the person he is on court and the person he is away from tennis.

“Of course, even off court, I can sometimes lose my temper. But, figuratively speaking, I've never fought anyone in my life. I've genuinely never hit anyone with my fist,” Medvedev said. “I've never fought anyone, so I'm probably a much calmer person in everyday life than I am on court."

Not the ending we expected 😮 @DjokerNole advances to the Beijing final after Medvedev is defaulted whilst down 5-7 3-5 #ChinaOpen https://t.co/Pae5eNrJ6W
— Tennis TV (@TennisTV) October 5, 2026

The Russian then explained why professional tennis can bring out a different side of his personality, pointing to the pressure of competition and the desire to win.

“On court, there are emotions involved. You want to win, there's the battle, the sport, the pursuit of great achievements. That's why things sometimes get heated.”

The conversation then turned to Billy Milligan, whose case became widely known because of claims that he had multiple personalities. Medvedev joked that he certainly did not have 20 or 24 personalities, explaining that his two sides were still part of the same person. “Even if I have two sides to my personality, they're not two different people. It's still one person."

The consequences of Medvedev's Beijing default

Medvedev's remarks come days after the incident against Djokovic brought renewed attention to his on-court behaviour. The ball had rebounded off the back of the court after Djokovic hit a winner, and Medvedev struck it into the crowd, where it hit a spectator near the eye.

The chair umpire and tournament officials determined that the incident warranted an immediate default under the rules governing dangerous or reckless ball striking. Medvedev subsequently apologised to the spectator and said he hoped to contact the person directly to see how they were doing.

The consequences went beyond the defeat. Medvedev forfeited the prize money and 200 ATP ranking points he had earned by reaching the semifinals in Beijing.

Read also

The incident also recalled Novak Djokovic's disqualification at the 2020 US Open, when the Serbian accidentally struck a line judge with a ball. Djokovic expressed sympathy for both Medvedev and the injured spectator after the Beijing incident, having experienced the consequences of a similar decision himself.

Medvedev's victory over Struff in Shanghai gives him an opportunity to refocus on competition. His explanation of the difference between his two sides does not resolve the questions raised by the default, but it provides context for how he views the intensity of professional tennis. For Medvedev, the competitive emotions that emerge on court remain distinct from the calmer person he believes he is away from it.

Cristhián AvilaTennis Journalist

Cristhián Ávila is a tennis journalist based in Santiago, Chile, and has been part of the TennisUpToDate team since early 2023. He covers the ATP and WTA Tours as well as all four Grand Slams, producing breaking news, match reports, analysis, and regular liveblogs from major tournaments.

His reporting combines statistical analysis with clear explanation, helping readers understand tactical developments, player form, and broader storylines across the tour. Working fluently in both Spanish and English, Cristhián collaborates with an international editorial team and contributes to comprehensive global coverage. As part of his work, he has conducted interviews and media interactions with leading figures in the sport, including Caroline Wozniacki and John McEnroe.

In his journalism, Cristhián places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. His coverage is grounded in research, context, and direct engagement with professional tennis.

See author's posts

claps 0visitors 0

Alexandra Eala's Asian Games decision ends without WTA penalty ahead of Wuhan return