Medvedev’s Meltdown Turns US Open Match into Chaos
What unfolded at the US Open last night was less like a tennis match and more like a scene from a sports drama. Daniil Medvedev, the 2021 US Open champion, found himself at the center of absolute chaos during his first-round clash against France’s Benjamin Bonzi. The match, already tense, spiraled out of control when an unexpected interruption completely shifted the momentum and the crowd’s mood.
It all happened at match point in the third set. Bonzi, who was serving to close out the contest, had just missed his first serve when a photographer suddenly walked onto the court. That moment of disruption caused chair umpire Greg Allensworth to make a controversial call: instead of continuing with a second serve, he reset the point and gave Bonzi a fresh first serve. And that, as you might imagine, set Medvedev off.
Also Read:- Sonya & Jules Invite You to an Unforgettable Royal Show Day
- Supermarket Opening Times for the August Bank Holiday
The Russian stormed toward the umpire’s chair, shouting in disbelief. His anger spilled over as he accused the umpire of wanting to “go home early” and mocked him for “getting paid by the match, not by the hour.” The crowd at Louis Armstrong Stadium erupted—some booing, some cheering, but all making noise. Play was halted for over six minutes as jeers rained down, turning the atmosphere into something more like a rowdy concert than a Grand Slam tennis match. Security quickly escorted the photographer out, revoking his credentials.
But here’s where the chaos almost became Medvedev’s saving grace. Fueled by anger and noise, he fended off the match point, broke Bonzi’s serve, and went on to steal the third set in a tiebreak. The Russian suddenly looked unstoppable, racing through the fourth set 6-0 while Bonzi seemed rattled and even took a medical timeout. For a moment, it felt like the meltdown might fuel an improbable comeback.
Yet, the fifth set told a different story. Bonzi, urged on by shouts of “Courage!” from his box, steadied himself. The Frenchman held his nerve in the deciding moments and clinched the match with a stunning backhand, leaving Medvedev to smash his racket in frustration as boos and cheers mixed from the stands. Bonzi admitted afterward that the night was unlike anything he had ever experienced, saying, “The energy was crazy. Thanks to all who were booing. Thanks for the energy.”
For Medvedev, the loss capped off a miserable year at the majors—just one Grand Slam win all season. He told reporters later that he wasn’t angry at the photographer but at the umpire’s decision. Still, his emotional response left fans divided: was it another chapter in his role as the US Open’s favorite villain, or simply the breaking point of a struggling champion?
Either way, it was a night that Flushing Meadows won’t soon forget—a chaotic spectacle where tennis met theatre, and Daniil Medvedev once again proved he is as unpredictable as he is talented.
Read More:
0 Comments