Tension erupted at the U.S. Open late Sunday night when a photographer entered the court, setting off a sequence of events that left an animated Daniil Medvedev fuming.
The mayhem at Louis Armstrong Stadium began after Benjamin Bonzi, leading the third set 5-4, missed his first serve on match point.
An unnamed photographer left his post and started to walk down the side of the court, prompting chair umpire Greg Allensworth to ask the man to get off the court.
Allensworth then awarded Bonzi a first serve, sending Medvedev into a tirade. Medvedev waved his arms to the booing crowd, encouraging them to continue jeering.
“He wants to go home, guys,” Medvedev declared of Allensworth in audio caught by the on-court microphones. “He doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
The incident led to a nearly seven minute delay.
And while the 13th-ranked Medvedev rallied from there to win the third and fourth sets, he ultimately lost to Bonzi 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4.
Medvedev destroyed his racket after the match, which did not end until early Monday morning.
“The rule is the rule,” Bonzi said. “The guy went on the court between two serves. I mean, it’s not my call to say first serve. And I think, yes, Daniil started it, and he put oil on the fire.”
The photographer’s credential has been revoked, the U.S. Tennis Association said Monday.
“I was not upset with the photographer,” Medvedev, 29, said. “I think nothing special. Every time there is a sound from the stands between the serves, there is never a second serve. But, well, it helped me get back into the match. It was a fun moment to live. I was not upset with the photographer. I was upset with the decision.”
This is hardly the first time Medvedev, who won the U.S. Open in 2021, has been at the center of controversy at the tournament in Queens.
In 2019, Medvedev pulled a towel away from a ballperson, then threw his racket when umpire Damien Dumusois gave him a code violation. At one point, the Russian star appeared to put his middle finger up to his head.
After that match, Medvedev thanked a booing crowd for giving him energy on his way to a four-set win over Felociano Lopez.
Medvedev was friendlier to the fans on Sunday, at one point blowing kisses in their direction.
“What I say and what I do, in my head, I want to do worse, and I cannot because there are rules, because we’re on the tennis court,” Medvedev said. “So I just expressed my emotions, my unhappiness with the decision, and then the crowd did what they did without me asking them too much, and it was fun to witness.”
With News Wire Services
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