Tennis legend Boris Becker reacts to Daniil Medvedev's outburst after US Open Round 1 loss: 'Needs professional help'

Russian tennis star Daniil Medvedev's on-court meltdown following his first-round exit at the US Open has led to outpouring of reactions from the tennis community – from former and current players to experts and fans. Among them is German tennis icon Boris Becker, who felt the 29-year-old perhaps needed “professional help”.

“We call this “public meltdown “ … I think he needs professional help ?!?” the 57-year-old six-time Grand Slam champion wrote on X, quote-tweeting a video of Medvedev repeatedly smashing his racquet while seated courtside following his 3-6, 5-7, 7-6 (7-5), 6-0, 4-6 defeat at the hands of France’s Benjamin Bonzi.

We call this “public meltdown “ …
I think he needs professional help ?!? https://t.co/rFyTmegQqx

— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) August 25, 2025

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It was the second time in as many Grand Slam meetings that the world No 13 lost to Bonzi. Medvedev, after all, had suffered lost to the Frenchman 6-7 (2-7), 6-3, 6-7 (3-7), 2-6, also in the first round, in the grass-court Major last month.

Also Read | McEnroe slams Medvedev for outburst after US Open exit: ‘Needs to take rest of the year off’

And at Flushing Meadows at the ‘Big Apple’, Medvedev found himself on the verge of losing in straight sets at the Louis Armstrong Stadium when he took the third sets into the tie-breaks, where he prevailed 7-5 to keep the contest alive.

How Medvedev lost his cool at Flushing Meadows

What contributed to Medvedev’s temper going out of control was a questionable umpiring decision in the crucial third set. Bonzi had the ball in hand with a 5-4 lead against his name when he missed his first serve.

Chair umpire Greg Allensworth, however, returned the first serve to the 29-year-old after a photographer inadvertently stepped on the court after Bonzi’s miss, which was deemed interference to play.

Medvedev, however, wasn’t too pleased with the umpire’s call and walked up to him to make his feelings crystal clear. “He wants to go home, guys. He doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour,” Medvedev shouted into the microphones behind the chair.

Medvedev also chanted American tennis player Reilly Opelka’s name while backing away from Allensworth’s chair. “What did Reilly Opelka say? What did Reilly Opelka say?” Medvedev was heard saying, in reference to Opelka getting penalised by the ATP Tour for calling Allensworth the “worst ump on tour.”

Also Read | Fritz gives candid take on the drama that unfolded in Medvedev's match at US Open: 'Call ends up hurting him'

The Russian, however, later clarified that he did not hold a grudge against the photographer; rather, he believed the delay caused by his brief appearance on the court wasn’t long enough for Bonzi to get his first serve back.

“I was not upset with the photographer. I was upset with the decision,” Medvedev said. “The delay from the photographer was probably four seconds and a half. I’m not sure it’s enough for a (first) serve.”

“I’m getting big fine enough, so if I speak I’m in big trouble, so I’m not going to speak. Everyone knows what I talked about when I said Reilly. Reilly got fined big-time for this, so I’m going to get a big fine, too,” added Medvedev on his “Reilly” outburst.