NEW YORK – Daniil Medvedev’s match was delayed by more than six minutes between points on Sunday night after the photographer entered the court at match points, and the 2021 US Open champions were furious at the decision to award the referee’s first serve.
The latest Medvedev meltdown at Louis Armstrong Stadium has changed the game a lot. The No. 13 seed was a point away from being eliminated, earning the next two sets and forced the decision fifth before Benjamin Bonji eliminated him from the second straight major with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4 victory that ended early on Monday.
“That’s a bit crazy, this match,” Bonji said. “For me, it’s like my greatest victory.”
He accused Medvedev of making him nervous, saying he believes Russia’s actions have crossed the line.
“I mean, the rules are the rules. The guy went to court between two serves,” Boni said. “I mean, it’s not my call to say the first service. And yes, I think Danil started it and he put oil on the fire.”
Bonji hit the first serve in the third set, leading 5-4. After he missed it, the photographer left his position and began walking along the side of the courthouse.
Judge Greg Allensworth announced that after telling the photographer to get off the court, Bonnis will get another first serve due to the delay. This is common in tennis. Medvedev then approached the chair and complained about the decision.
“He wants to go home. Everyone. He doesn’t like being here. He gets paid for games, not time,” Medvedev cried out at the microphone behind his chair.
Medvedev said he did not believe that interference from the photographer was long enough to resume the points after the match.
“I wasn’t angry with the photographer, I was angry with this decision,” Medvedev said. “The delay from the photographer was probably four and a half seconds. I don’t know if it’s enough for the (first) serve.”
Medvedev also cried out, “What did Riley Opelka say? What did Riley Opelka say?” When he left Aresworth’s chair. Opelka was punished by an ATP tour in February after calling Allensworth “the worst UMP on the tour.”
Medvedev did not elaborate on that part of the exchange at his press conference.
“I’m big enough, so if I talk, I’m in a big trouble so I’m not going to talk,” he said. “Everyone knows I spoke to when I said Riley. Riley was fined for this, so I’ll be fined too.”
Medvedev continued to blow kisses off the fans and encouraged them with big boos. When Bonzi finally did, he missed the first serve and lost points, and Medvedev won the game and later won the set, which extended the match.
Boni, who had fans recited his name from time to time, seemed ready to serve at some point. He explained that he doesn’t want to hit because it’s difficult to play tennis without hearing the sound of the ball.
“Every time I went to the line to serve, and every time I did it, everyone was booing. I felt like I hadn’t done anything wrong in the match. “So I was waiting.”
When fans booed him for his antics, it was reminiscent of Medvedev’s 2019 match in the same courthouse, and he later said that the attackers gave him energy. Medvedev took the towel from Ballperson and was given a code violation by referee Damien Dumusois. Medvedev then threw the racket in the direction of Dumsois, yelling at him something, then flushing his middle finger next to his forehead as he passed the referee’s chair.
Medvedev reached the final of that year and won the title two years later. However, he was only 1-4 in the Grand Slam tournament this year, and also pissed off Bonji in his first round at Wimbledon.
Medvedev sat in a chair a few minutes after Sunday’s match and repeatedly smashed his racket before finally leaving.
A spokesman for the American Tennis Association said the photographer was escorted from the court by US Open Security and his qualifications have been revoked.
