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Medvedev Calls ATP Fine System Incorrect

Daniil Medvedev criticized the ATP's system of fines at the Paris Masters after a string of code violations and penalties this season.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in Tennis

Expressive editorial sports illustration of a tennis player mid-swing on a blue hard court under stadium floodlights, depicting the tour's conduct and penalty debate.
Daniil Medvedev said the ATP's system of fines is incorrect at the Paris Masters, after penalties for a court punch in Vienna and an accidental ball strike in China. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

Daniil Medvedev said the ATP's system of fines is incorrect at the Paris Masters, following a season in which he was penalized for punching the court during his match against Cameron Norrie in Vienna. Under the tour's tiering system, code violations escalate to point and game penalties, and fines often reach $60,000 at Masters 1000 events.

Why it matters

Medvedev's comments add to an ongoing debate over how the tour enforces player conduct rules and whether its penalty structure is consistently applied. The episodes show how emotions in high-stakes matches can lead to lapses in judgment with significant financial and competitive consequences.

Medvedev's penalties include $42,500 in total fines at the 2025 US Open, $12,500 for equipment abuse and $30,000 for unsporting conduct. His China Open winnings exceeding $219,000 were forfeited after a disqualification, and the source does not say whether further sanctions are pending.

The players

Daniil Medvedev

Russian professional tennis player and former world number one who has been among the tour's most prominent players in recent seasons.

ATP

The Association of Tennis Professionals, the governing body that sets rules, runs the men's tour and administers player code violations and fines.

The details

Medvedev punched the court with his fist during his match against Cameron Norrie in Vienna, and the chair umpire did not sanction him. He was later disqualified from his China Open match against Novak Djokovic after accidentally hitting a spectator with a ball.

Timeline

  1. 2016: Medvedev was disqualified from a Savannah Challenger match after a verbal altercation with the umpire.

  2. 2024: Medvedev received a code violation warning during his Wimbledon semifinal against Carlos Alcaraz.

  3. 2025: Medvedev was fined at the US Open during his first-round match against Benjamin Bonzi.

  4. 2026: Medvedev paid a $7,000 fine in Monte Carlo and was disqualified at the China Open.

  5. 2026-11-04

    Medvedev criticized the ATP's fine system at the Paris Masters.

Season Trajectory

Medvedev's run of penalties and disqualifications this season sits within the ATP's tiered code violation framework, which escalates from warnings to point and game penalties. His criticism of the system at the Paris Masters adds pressure on the tour to justify how those penalties are applied to top players.

For players and fans tracking the rankings, the penalty amounts and forfeited winnings directly affect prize money and season earnings. Medvedev's disqualifications also remove matches that would otherwise shape bracket and points outcomes at the affected tournaments.

The takeaway

Penalties on the tour can cost players far more than a single match, with fines and forfeited winnings adding up across a season. Players who understand the tiered warning system are better positioned to avoid escalation at high-pressure events.

Further reading

For more on the sport's competitive landscape, see Tennis coverage.