 "Medvedev's latest meltdown at US Open reminded everyone of his 2019 antics. Image: Reuters")
Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev was once again in the spotlight at the US Open, this time for his angry outburst during his first-round match against France’s Benjamin Bonzi. The 2021 champion was close to losing in the third set when a strange incident with a photographer led to a heated argument.
Bonzi was serving at 5-4 in the third set when he missed his first serve. At that moment, the chair umpire Greg Allensworth stopped play after seeing a photographer walk across the court, and he allowed Bonzi to serve again. This made Medvedev furious as he shouted at the umpire and even yelled into the microphones.
“Are you a man? He wants to go home, guys. He doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour,” he was heard telling the umpire. This sparked loud boos from the crowd but Medvedev responded by making heart signs and blowing kisses and signalling them to shout more.
Play was delayed for a few minutes as the boos continued and Bonzi refused to serve. When the game resumed, Bonzi double-faulted, and Medvedev went on to win the third set in a tiebreak and the fourth set 6-0. It looked like a big comeback was on the way. But Bonzi fought back strongly in the deciding set and won 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4.
Medvedev smashes racket in anger
The loss meant Medvedev has now gone out in the first round of three Grand Slams in a row. After the match ended, Medvedev was seen smashing his racket in anger.
It was reminiscent of Medvedev’s 2019 match on the same court, when fans booed him for his antics and he later taunted the crowd in his post-match interview, saying the jeers gave him energy. Medvedev had snatched the towel from a ballperson during the match and was given a code violation by umpire Damien Dumusois. Medvedev then threw his racket in the direction of Dumusois, barked something at him and later flashed his middle finger next to his forehead as he walked past the umpire’s chair, actions that led to him being fined $9,000 for that match.
Medvedev reached the final that year, then won the title two years later. But he went just 1-4 in Grand Slam tournaments this year and was also upset by Bonzi in the first round at Wimbledon.
(With agency inputs)