Daniil Medvedev was disqualified from the China Open semi-final against Novak Djokovic after hitting a ball into the stands and injuring a spectator.
The third-seeded Russian was trailing Djokovic 7-5, 5-3 when the incident occurred. Djokovic had just won a point to make it 15-15 when the ball rebounded off the back wall. Medvedev struck the returning ball towards the stands, where it hit a spectator sitting in the front row.
The fan held his face and covered his eye as he was helped out of the arena, while Medvedev stood on the court watching. The chair umpire and an ATP official then came onto court to speak to Medvedev before the Russian was defaulted. Medvedev did not appear to contest the decision and walked to the net to shake hands with Djokovic.
"Terribly sorry to the spectator, first of all," Medvedev said. "I'm trying to get in touch with him, if he wants it. Hopefully I can apologise in person and see how he feels. I just hope he's OK. That's the most important. I just really care about him right now."
Medvedev has a history of on-court outbursts, including racket-smashing episodes that have resulted in fines.
Earlier this year, he was fined around $7,000 after repeatedly smashing his racket during his 6-0, 6-0 defeat by Matteo Berrettini at the Monte Carlo Masters.
But Medvedev is not the first tennis player to be defaulted after an object hit someone around the court. Several players have faced similar penalties over the years.
NOVAK DJOKOVIC ( 2020 US OPEN)
Medvedev's semi-final opponent, Djokovic has himself experienced a remarkably similar situation at the 2020 US Open.
During his fourth-round match against Pablo Carreño Busta, Djokovic was trailing 6-5 in the opening set when he hit a ball towards the back of the court in frustration after losing a game. The ball struck a female line judge in the throat.
Although Djokovic did not intend to hit her, officials defaulted him from the tournament under the Grand Slam rules governing unsportsmanlike conduct and ball abuse.
After Medvedev's disqualification in Beijing, Djokovic expressed sympathy for both the spectator and his opponent.
"A bit of a shock, to be honest. I'm sorry for the person, I honestly didn't see what happened. I hope the person is not badly injured," he said. "On the other hand, I also feel sorry for Daniil. Because I know exactly how it feels to be disqualified in a big match."
STEFAN KOUBEK (2000 FRENCH OPEN)
Austria's Stefan Koubek was disqualified from the 2000 French Open after throwing his racket and accidentally hitting a ball boy. Koubek was losing to Hungary's Attila Savolt 3-6, 7-5, 6-0, 5-2 when he threw his racket towards his chair. The racket hit a ball boy instead. Koubek had already received three warnings during the match for coaching, an earlier racket throw and verbal abuse, before he was immediately disqualified for hitting a ball boy in an act of unsportsmanlike behaviour.
DENIS SHAPOVALOV (2017 DAVIS CUP)
Canada's Denis Shapovalov was defaulted from a Davis Cup tie against Great Britain in 2017 after hitting chair umpire Arnaud Gabas in the eye with a ball. Shapovalov, then 17, was trailing Kyle Edmund when he struck a spare ball in anger following a lost point. The ball hit Gabas in the left eye. Referee Brian Earley immediately defaulted Shapovalov for unsportsmanlike conduct. The International Tennis Federation later fined him $7,000.
DARIAN KING (2014 CHARLOTTESVILLE CHALLENGER)
Barbadian player Darian King was disqualified from the Charlottesville Challenger in 2014 after his racket struck a lineswoman. King threw the racket towards a tarp behind the court after losing a point. It ricocheted off the tarp and hit the lineswoman, who fell to the ground. He was immediately defaulted from his match against Edward Corrie.
