The US Open dived into chaos on Sunday when a photographer entered the court while Danil Medvedev faced a match point, paralyzing the first round of Grand Slam’s first round and causing the Russian’s wrath.
Champion of the tournament in 2021, Medvedev was eliminated by 3 sets to 2 –6/3, 7/5, 6/7 (5), 0/6 and 6/4 – by Frenchman Benjamin Bonzi, who threatened to abandon the court at a given moment and asked for the Russian disqualification.
Drawing to the game on the third set with the advantage of 5 games to 4, Bonzi was preparing to perform his second withdrawal when a photographer entered the court improperly.
The interruption led the referee of chair Greg Allensworth to allow Bonzi to return the first withdrawal, a decision that revolted Medvedev.
“Are you a man? Are you man? Why are you tremendous?” The Russian shouted as he advanced toward the referee’s chair. “He wants to go home, guys, he doesn’t like it from here. He’s paid by match, not by time.”
Medvedev also repeatedly shouted, “What do Reilly Opelka said?” For the official, in reference to the American player’s request for Allensworth to be suspended after being punished during the Dallas Open for confronting a viewer.
The match was interrupted for about six minutes while boos, whistles and shouts echoed by the court Louis Armstrong, with the fans refusing to be silent so that Bonzi could withdraw.
The UTA (United States Tennis Association) reported that the photographer was escorted out of the court for US Open’s security and that his credentials were revoked.
Chaos almost became Medvedev’s salvation.
After defending the match point, he broke the service to tie the set 5-5 before winning on Tie-Break and forcing a fourth set.
The former ranking leader looked a completely different player in the fourth set, applying a “tire” to tie the match while his shaken opponent asked for medical time for what seemed to be a knee problem.
The boos of the fans continued for the rest of the match, with some fans aiming at Bonzi during their loot movement.
The final set was much more disputed, with the duo exchanging multiple breaks of service, while the match was heading for an exciting ending.
Encouraged by shouts of “Courage!” and “Allez!” Communion from the stands, Bonzi secured the victory with a backhand, while Medvedev returned to his seat and broke his racket.
“I was not annoyed with the photographer,” Medvedev said in an interview with journalists after the match. “I was annoyed by the decision.”
“Every time there is some noise from the stands between the withdrawals, there is never a second withdrawal. But the referee gave him a first withdrawal. That’s what made me angry.”
Bonzi said he felt Medvedev’s behavior has exceeded the boundaries.
“Daniil started and threw wood at the fire. He went crazy along with the crowd. He went with them. Honestly, I never saw it,” said the Frenchman.
“The rule is the rule. The guy entered the court between two withdrawals. It is not up to me to say if it was the first withdrawal. I felt that I did nothing wrong in the match to receive this treatment, and did not want to withdraw under these conditions.”
The defeat ends a terrible year in the Grand Slam tournaments for Medvedev, which ends 2025 with only one victory in the four main tournaments of the circuit.
“I’m playing badly and, at important moments, even worse,” he said. “Withdrawal, return, volley … Everything.”
