 "Daniil Medvedev smashed his racquet following exit from US Open 2025. Image: AFP")
Daniil Medvedev’s torrid form in Grand Slams continues as the Russian crashed out in the first round of the US Open on Sunday at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The former world number one lost to Benjamin Bonzi in five sets. Besides the tennis action, the match had its fair share of controversy, too.
Things looked grim for Medvedev as Bonzi was cruising with a two-set lead and had a match point in the third . A loss in straight sets in the opening round seemed inevitable. However, fate intervened in the strangest way possible: a photographer mistakenly walked onto the court, forcing the umpire to give Bonzi another go at his first serve. The umpire’s decision did not sit well with Medvedev, who openly voiced his exasperation, as the match paused for almost six minutes.
“Are you a grown man or not?” the Russian asked umpire Greg Allensworth during their argument.
“Want to return home?,” the former World No. 1 went on. “Don’t you want to go home?. He doesn’t want to be here, he gets paid by the match not by the hour.”
Nonetheless, Medvedev found a way to stay alive and forced the match to the fourth set and then to the fifth, where Bonzi came up with the goods to eliminate the Russian. Bonzi won the match 6-3, 7-5, 6-7, 0-6, 6-4.
Daniil Medvedev cuts out a livid figure after loss
Medvedev was extremely angry following the conclusion of the match. He threw six racquets from his bag into the stands for fans. Then he picked up the racquet that he used in the match and smashed it multiple times against the bench.
Experts on Medvedev’s on-court outburst
Witnessing Medvedev’s angry outburst on the court, many experts and former players took to social media to express their thoughts on the incident.
Former Wimbledon finalist, Eugenie Bouchard could not believe the drama that had unfolded in the match and wrote, “Can’t go to sleep because of this Medvedev match omgggg the drama.”
Tennis legend Patrick McEnroe also posted a reaction, which can be interpreted as a valuable advice for Medvedev. “And Medvedev needs to take the rest of the year off,” he wrote.
The loss concludes Daniil Medvedev’s Grand Slam season. It has been a forgettable year for the 29-year-old as far as Grand Slam tennis is concerned. He lost in the second round at the Australian Open and suffered an opening round loss in the following three Grand Slams. It will be a daunting task for him to come back from this.