Ultimately, Danil Medvedev simply played a character that many of his fans have come to love for years – full of enthusiastic and rage during another disappointing performance in a major tournament.
Medvedev defeated Benjamin Bonji Several times during the first round of the US Open on Sunday nighthowever, after the photographer walked to the court at the match point in the third set, the battle officially slipped off the rails at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Bonzi confused Medvedev (6-3, 7-5, 6-7(5), 0-6, 6-4) in the thriller despite the confusion that lasted nearly seven minutes at the end of the third set. Bonji was cruising towards a 5-4 straight set victory before the cameraman confused the play before the second serve.
This wasn’t the first time Medvedev lost cool at the US Open. In the third round of the 2019 event, Medvedev flipped the crowd, snatched the towel from the ball boy and threw a racket in the direction of the referee.
Medvedev’s tantrum history
Earlier this year, Medvedev was fined $76,000 for camera and racket smash Tyrades in the first two rounds of the Australian Open. After first smashing the camera after a five-set victory, Medvedev was fined for the first round of infringement, later docked during his second loss to American qualifiers after throwing a racket across the court.
At Wimbledon in 2017, Medvedev was fined after emptied his wallet and tossed a coin at Judge Mariana Alves, carrying a five-set defeat to Belgian Reuben Bemelmann. He disputed a series of controversial calls and said after the match, “It was very hot.”
There were other things that led to Medvedev getting furious during the match, leading to disciplinary action from the ATP Tour.
“I’m just trying to become myself,” Medvedev told BBC Sports this summer at Wimbledon. “If some people find me funny, I’m happy. Some people may think I’m bored. That’s fine. There’s no need to make it interesting – it’s not an obligation. Being yourself means that if you try to act, people will see through it and you’ll lose yourself.”
Why we opened the explosion
Judge Greg Allensworth gave Boni another first serve attempt after the photographer was asked to step off the court. Visibly angry at this decision, Medvedev asked the judge on the chair several times, “Are you a man? Are you a man?” before continuing his tilade.
Medvedev then looked up live television cameras and told viewers, “He wants to go home, he doesn’t want to be here.”
“He’s paid by the match, not by the time,” Medvedev said.
Medvedev cried out, “What did Riley Opelka say? What did Riley Opelka say?” As he turned his back on Aresworth’s chair and returned to his side of the court. The ATP Tour was punished by Opelca earlier this year after calling Allensworth “the worst ump on the tour.”
Medvedev launched the crowd and lifted his hands before encouraging boos. By this time, the US Open had clearly lost control of the situation, and had one of its players expand the chaos on the court.
Bonji rattled in the delay, continuing to lose sets, dropping the fourth set with bagels before winning fifth.
“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.”
Medvedes is hoping for energy
After the match, Medvedev crushed the racket on his courtside bench and sat for a few minutes, showing more bouts of rage and sporty acts during the embarrassing end of another first round loss at the Grand Slam.
“I’m big enough, so if I talk, I’m in big trouble, so I’m not going to talk,” Medvedev said via ESPN after the conflict. “Everyone knows I spoke to when I said Riley. Riley was fined for this, so I’ll be fined too.”
After winning a total of 18 matches in various Grand Slams during the 2024 season, Medvedes won one major in 2025, coming during the Australian Open in January.
