Daniil Medvedev, the Russian tennis star, has once again found himself at the centre of controversy at the US Open.
But rather than regret the six-minute on-court meltdown that paused his match, the 29-year-old described it as “a fun moment to live” and even hinted at wanting to finish his career in New York with one final high-drama match.
What Sparked the Chaos
The drama unfolded during Medvedev’s first-round clash with Benjamin Bonzi.
Trailing match point in the third set, a photographer wandered onto the court while Bonzi prepared for a second serve.
Umpire Gregory Allensworth awarded Bonzi a first serve, and Medvedev’s protests escalated, prompting boos from the New York crowd.
Rather than calming down, he egged the spectators on, stretching the interruption to six minutes.
“I wasn’t upset with the photographer,” Medvedev said afterwards. “It was nothing special.
But the decision? That’s what got me. It actually helped me get back into the match. It was a fun moment to experience.”
A Match Point Turned Into Drama
The interruption clearly rattled Bonzi, who double-faulted and dropped the third and fourth sets.
He eventually recovered to take the final set, leaving Medvedev to reflect on the intense and unusual sequence.
When asked if his behaviour was a calculated attempt to distract Bonzi in true John McEnroe fashion, Medvedev was quick to deny it.
“Honestly, not at all. I was just upset at the decision. He had match point. If the referee doesn’t intervene, he probably wins.
I just expressed my unhappiness, and the crowd reacted. It was wild to witness.”
Crowd Chaos and On-Court Tensions
Bonzi admitted the disruption threw him off his game. “Daniil started it, and he really stirred things up.
It felt like a football stadium in the middle of a tennis match.
It was tough to refocus and even hear the ball. It’s probably my best victory ever, but it was surreal.”
Expecting a Hefty Fine
Medvedev also acknowledged he’ll likely face a significant fine for confronting umpire Allensworth.
At one point, he shouted: “Are you a man? Why are you shaking? He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
Medvedev referenced past fines handed to American Reilly Opelka and said he expects to be punished even more severely.
“They fine guys like me much more than others,” he complained.
“Kyrgios, me, Bublik… even Reilly. It’s not always fair.”
Medvedev Reflects on His Form
Beyond the controversy, the world No. 13 admitted his form has been poor.
“I’m playing badly, and in crucial moments, even worse. Serve, return, volley – everything. I just need to improve, and I’ll try again next year.”
Looking Ahead
Despite the dramatic on-court antics and looming fines, Medvedev’s comments revealed a strange mix of defiance and admiration for the spectacle of the US Open.
For him, even chaotic matches can be a “fun moment,” and perhaps one day, he hopes to end his career amid the energy and drama of New York’s courts.
