In one of the tumultuous matches of the 2025 US Open, former champion Daniil Medvedev was unceremoniously knocked out within the first spherical by Benjamin Bonzi, in a match marred not by harm or brilliance, however by chaos—most of which Medvedev helped gasoline himself.
The Spark That Ignited the Fury
With Bonzi serving for the match at 5-4, 5-4 within the third set, and going through match level, play got here to a halt as a photographer mistakenly stepped onto the courtroom mid-point. The chair umpire, Greg Allensworth, dominated it deserved a replay of Bonzi’s first serve—an uncommon determination that instantly infuriated Medvedev.
Medvedev’s Outburst:
What adopted was pandemonium. Medvedev sprinted towards the umpire, accusing him not of concentrating on the photographer, however of mishandling the state of affairs: “I wasn’t upset with the photographer. I used to be upset with the choice,” he later defined.
However Medvedev didn’t cease there—he turned to the gang, egging them on to vociferous boos geared toward each Bonzi and the umpire. “He needs to go house, guys. He will get paid by the match, not by the hour,” he yelled, invoking a weird rallying cry that stoked the environment right into a feverish crescendo.
A Six-Minute Delay of Mayhem
The disruption lasted over six minutes, with followers roaring and Medvedev fueling them, earlier than play ultimately resumed. It was solely after this extraordinary delay that Bonzi lastly served—then double-faulted. Medvedev gained the purpose, the third set (through tiebreak), and rode that momentum to dominate the fourth, solely to lose a good fifth set. The ultimate rating: 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4
Medvedev’s Press-Convention Take
After the loss, Medvedev, nonetheless bristling, reiterated: “The group pushed me to return again into the match… I didn’t do something.” He praised New York’s depth: “I like New York… They did the work… It was enjoyable to witness.” He additionally admitted he anticipated a considerable fantastic for his conduct.
Reflecting on his season, he candidly added that his efficiency throughout the majors had been lackluster, mourning that in pivotal moments, he merely “performed unhealthy” and vowed to do higher subsequent yr.
Bonzi’s View: “He Put Oil on the Hearth”
Bonzi, shaken however composed, known as the match “loopy” and “the perfect victory ever.” He felt Medvedev overstepped: “Daniil began it, he put oil on the hearth… I felt I didn’t do something unhealthy… I didn’t wish to serve in these circumstances”
He spoke of the pandemonium vividly: “The power was loopy… We waited possibly 5 minutes… There was a lot noise”
A Recurring Theme of Turbulence
This wasn’t Medvedev’s first run-in with controversy. His risky historical past on the US Open spans from his 2019 on-court blow-ups and court-taunting to the jeers that adopted his 2023 run, and emotional outbursts at earlier majors—portray a portrait of a participant of immense expertise however flamable temperament.
Remaining Ideas
This dramatic-match meltdown serves as a reminder that sports activities are as a lot about spectacle as ability. Right here, Medvedev grew to become each agent and instigator of the drama—even whereas claiming, “I didn’t do something.” His phrases captured a defiant composure amid the mayhem he helped orchestrate. Whether or not followers noticed a savvy entertainer or a poor sport depends upon one’s perspective—however for higher or worse, this match will linger as one of the chaotic moments in current US Open historical past.
