Former US Open champion Daniil Medvedev pulled off one of the most dramatic turnarounds of his career in New York after a chaotic five-minute meltdown that saw him clash with the chair umpire, rile up the crowd, get booed, and still fight back from match point against Benjamin Bonzi.
The Russian star, who has been struggling at Grand Slams this season, was on the brink of a third straight first-round exit. A costly double fault in the ninth game of the third set handed underdog Benjamin Bonzi match point, and what followed stunned the Arthur Ashe Stadium.
Medvedev Explodes at Umpire Over Cameraman Disruption
As Bonzi prepared to serve on match point, his first serve clipped the net. However, chair umpire Greg Allensworth ordered a replay after spotting a cameraman who had aimlessly walked onto the court.
The call infuriated Medvedev. He stormed toward the official and launched into a fiery tirade: “Are you a man? Are you a man? Why are you shaking? What’s wrong, huh? Guys, he wants to leave. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”
Medvedev even turned to the broadcast camera mid-rant, further escalating tensions. The crowd, already restless, erupted in loud boos as the match came to a standstill for nearly five minutes.
Crowd Turns Hostile as Medvedev Sends Flying Kisses
The Frenchman refused to serve until order was restored, while Medvedev mocked the jeers with a heart gesture and flying kisses — a move that only intensified the crowd’s hostility.
When play finally resumed, Bonzi faltered. His first serve went wide, drawing sarcastic cheers for Medvedev, before an unforced error gifted the Russian the break back. Medvedev then sealed the game with a stunning winner to level the set at 5-5 and once again taunted the crowd with another heart gesture.
From Meltdown to Miracle: Medvedev Forces Fifth Set
Riding the momentum, the former World No. 1 held his serve, survived a nervy tiebreaker, and took the fourth set to push the match into a deciding fifth.
The incident even left fellow player Taylor Fritz bewildered. The US Open’s No. 4 seed tweeted: “Photographer walking on court when he’s not supposed to could’ve just changed the entire match.”
A Tough Year for Medvedev
Despite his fiery comeback in New York, Medvedev’s 2025 season has been far from ideal. The 29-year-old, who once sat at the pinnacle of the ATP rankings after back-to-back Australian Open finals in 2022, has endured a rough patch — exiting in the second round of the Australian Open this year, followed by first-round defeats at both Roland Garros and Wimbledon.
Now, with the US Open underway, Medvedev hopes his fighting spirit can finally revive a season that has so far been filled with disappointments.
