Daniil Medvedev has been hit with a significant financial and ranking penalty after his unexpected disqualification from the China Open semifinal against Novak Djokovic. The Russian will lose all prize money and ranking points earned during his run in Beijing, meaning the incident has cost him $219,295 and 200 ATP ranking points.
Medvedev was leading Djokovic 7-5, 3-5 when an attempted return sent the ball into the crowd and struck a spectator. The incident immediately changed the match, with officials applying the rule that requires a player to be defaulted if a ball hits a spectator, official or stadium staff member, regardless of whether the contact was intentional.
The loss comes at a particularly important point in Medvedev's season. He remains eighth in the ATP Race to Turin, currently holding the final qualifying position for the ATP Finals, but Djokovic and Alex de Minaur are closing the gap. Losing 200 points in Beijing therefore adds further pressure to his pursuit of a place at the season-ending tournament.
Medvedev will now turn his attention to the Shanghai Masters, where he is the fifth seed and has a first-round bye. He will begin against either Martin Landaluce or Jan-Lennard Struff, with the Russian needing to quickly put the unusual end to his Beijing campaign behind him.
Medvedev insists the incident was accidental
The incident occurred when the ball came back towards Medvedev after a point. Rather than allowing it to leave the court, the Russian attempted to send it away, but the ball struck a spectator in the eye. The person was seen holding the affected area, prompting officials to intervene before Medvedev was disqualified.
The former world No. 1 immediately stressed that he had not acted out of anger and said he was concerned about the condition of the spectator.
“I’m terribly sorry to the spectator. I’m trying to get in touch with him, if he wants it,” Medvedev said at press conference. “Hopefully I can apologize in person and see how he feels.”
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 former US Open champion also rejected the idea that he had deliberately hit the ball into the stands. While Medvedev has previously been involved in controversial moments on court, he argued that intentionally striking a spectator was not part of his usual behavior.
“You can see that I didn’t hit the ball in anger. I do a lot of bad things, but usually ball abuse is not my thing,” the Russian explained. “The ball was bouncing back, so I tried to just hit it anywhere, so it doesn’t go out from the court.”
A costly exit with the ATP Finals race tightening
The consequences nevertheless remain substantial. Medvedev's Beijing run officially ends without the 200 points or $219,295 in prize money he had accumulated by reaching the semifinals. The ATP could also impose a separate fine for unsportsmanlike conduct, with reports suggesting that penalty could be worth up to $10,000.
The timing makes the loss particularly damaging. Medvedev is still eighth in the Race to Turin, but Djokovic and de Minaur are now within striking distance as the battle for the final places intensifies.
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For Medvedev, however, the immediate concern extends beyond rankings and prize money. The Russian said the moment was difficult to process after realizing what had happened to the spectator.
“When I saw the result (ball hitting the spectator), I felt horrible. I hope that he’s okay, 'cause you never know with these types of situations.”
Medvedev now has little time to dwell on the incident. Shanghai begins this week, giving him an immediate opportunity to recover the momentum he built during the Asian Swing and protect his position in the race for Turin.
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.
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