NEW YORK — Daniil Medvedev’s match was delayed greater than six minutes between factors Sunday evening, after a photographer entered the court docket on match level and the 2021 US Open champion turned enraged by the chair umpire’s determination to award his opponent a primary serve.
The most recent Medvedev meltdown on Louis Armstrong Stadium led to a wild change within the match. The No. 13 seed was some extent away from being eradicated, then received the subsequent two units to power a deciding fifth earlier than Benjamin Bonzi eradicated him from a second straight main with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4 victory that ended early Monday.
“I attempted to remain calm within the match but it surely was not straightforward,” Bonzi mentioned.
Bonzi had simply hit his first serve main 5-4 within the third set. After he missed it, a photographer left his place earlier than the Frenchman may hit his second.
Chair umpire Greg Allensworth advised the photographer to get off the court docket, then introduced that Bonzi would get one other first serve due to the delay — which is widespread in tennis. Medvedev then approached the chair to complain in regards to the determination.
“He needs to go house, guys. He doesn’t wish to be right here. He will get paid by the match, not by the hour,” Medvedev shouted into the microphones behind the chair.
Medvedev saved encouraging the loud boos on Armstrong, which finally lasted so lengthy that he then tried to get followers to cool down so Bonzi may serve. When Bonzi lastly did, he missed the primary serve after which misplaced the purpose, and Medvedev received the sport and later the set in a tiebreaker to extend the match.
“I by no means skilled one thing like that,” mentioned Bonzi, who had followers chanting his title at instances.
It was harking back to Medvedev’s 2019 match on the identical court docket, when followers booed him for his antics and he later taunted the group in his post-match interview, saying the jeers gave him vitality. Medvedev had snatched the towel from a ballperson in the course of the match and was given a code violation by umpire Damien Dumusois. Medvedev then threw his racket within the course of Dumusois, barked one thing at him and later flashed his center finger subsequent to his brow as he walked previous the umpire’s chair, actions that led to him being fined $9,000 for that match.
Medvedev reached the ultimate that yr, then received the title two years later. However he went simply 1-4 in Grand Slam tournaments this yr and was additionally upset by Bonzi within the first spherical at Wimbledon.
Medvedev sat in his chair for a couple of minutes after the match and repeatedly smashed his racket earlier than finally departing.
A U.S. Tennis Affiliation spokesman mentioned the photographer was escorted from the court docket by US Open safety and his credential was revoked.
