Daniil Medvedev’s match was delayed for more than six minutes on Sunday evening between points, after a photographer entered the court on Match Point and the US Open Champion 2021 was furious with the decision of the chairman referee To grant his opponent a first serve.
The last Medvedev Meltdown in Louis Armstrong Stadium Led to a wild change in the competition. Seed no. 13 was a point removed from eliminated and then won the next two sets to force a decisive fifth before Benjamin Bonzi eliminated him from a second straight major with a 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4 victory that ended on Monday.
“It’s a bit crazy, this competition,” said Bonzi. “For me it is my best victory ever.”
And he blamed Medvedev for making a tense, and said he believed that the behavior of the Russian exceeded a line.
“I mean, the rule is the rule. The man went between two services on the field,” said Bonzi. “I mean, it’s not my call to say the first serve. And I think, yes, Daniil started and he put oil on the fire.”
Bonzi had just hit his first serve with 5-4 in the third set. After missing it, a photographer left his position and started walking along the side of the field.
Chairman referee Greg Allesworth told the photographer to get off the field and then announced that Bonzi would get another first -service because of the delay – which is common in tennis. Medvedev then approached the chairman to complain about the decision.
‘Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you vibrating? What’s wrong, right? ” Said Medvedev.
“He wants to go home, boys. He doesn’t like to be here. He is paid for by the game, not by the hour,” Medvedev continued in the microphones behind the chair.
Medvedev said after the game that he did not believe that the photographer’s interference was long enough to restart the point.
“I was not angry with the photographer. I was angry about the decision,” said Medvedev. “The delay of the photographer was probably four seconds and a half. I am not sure if it is enough for a (first) serve.”
Medvedev also shouted: “What did Reilly Opelka say? What did Reilly Opelka say?” While he withdrew from the Allesworth’s chair. Opelka was punished by the ATP tour in February “Worst UMP on tour. “
Medvedev would not comment on that part of the fair during his press conference.
“I am getting good enough, so when I speak, I’m in big problems, so I’m not going to talk,” he said. “Everyone knows what I was talking about when I said Reilly. Reilly was fined for this, so I also get a big fine.”
Medvedev blew kisses for fans and continued to encourage the loud anger, who lasted so long that he tried to rest fans so that Bonzi could serve. When Bonzi finally did it, he missed the first serve and then lost the point, and Medvedev won the game and later the set to extend the game.
Bonzi, who sometimes had fans who sang his name, seemed ready to serve at a certain moment before some started whistling. He explained that he did not want to hit because it is difficult to play tennis without hearing the sound of the ball.
“Every time I went on the line to serve and every time I did, everyone was at the Booing. I felt that I did nothing in the competition to receive this treatment, and I didn’t want to serve in those circumstances,” said Bonzi. “So I was waiting.”
It was reminiscent of Medvedev’s 2019 match at the same court, when fans held him out for his antics and later he was taunted in his interview after the match and said the jers gave him energy. Medvedev had removed the towel from a counter and received a violation of the code by Umpire Damien Dumusois. Medvedev then threw his racket in the direction of Dumusois, barked at him and later flashed his middle finger next to his forehead while walking past the referee’s chair, actions that led him to received a fine of $ 9,000 for that match.
Medvedev reached the final that year and then won the title two years later. But this year he only went 1-4 in Grand Slam tournaments and was also upset by Bonzi in the first round in Wimbledon.
Medvedev was in his chair for a few minutes after the game and Racket are repeatedly broken Before you finally leave.
A spokesperson for the American tennis club said that the photographer was accompanied by US Open Security from the court and his letters of faith were withdrawn.
Huffpost has contributed to reporting to this article.
