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Medvedev had a meltdown after losing to Benjamin Bonzi in the opening round of the US Open. (Screengrabs: X/The Tennis Letter)
Russia’s Daniil Medvedev completely lost the plot after he was defeated by Benjamin Bonzi in the first round of the US Open, thereby eliminating the No.13 from the tournament, his second straight opening round exit to the same opponent after June’s Wimbledon shock.
Medvedev who was defeated 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4, was then seen sitting on the bench distraught before constantly smashing his racquet out of frustration, ultimately breaking it. German legend Boris Becker reacted to the video of the incident, wondering if Medvedev needed professional help to deal with the temper issues.
“We call this “public meltdown “ … I think he needs professional help ?!?” Becker posted.
The tipping point
Medvedev was already on the edge earlier in the match when he was trailing by 2 sets to Bonzi. In the 3rd set, Bonzi hit his first serve leading 5-4. But he missed it. After that a photographer inadvertently stepped on the court which led to the chair umpire Allensworth asking him to leave the court and because it was an interference to play, he returned the first serve to Bonzi.
This was the tipping point for Medvedev who approached the umpire and started having an angry verbal exchange with him, saying “Are you a man? Why are you shaking? What’s wrong huh?” He would then turned to the camera that was next to the umpire and started screaming: “Guys he wants to leave. He gets paid by the match not by the hour.”
We call this “public meltdown “ …
I think he needs professional help ?!? https://t.co/rFyTmegQqx
— Boris Becker (@TheBorisBecker) August 25, 2025
“What did Reilly Opelka say? What did Reilly Opelka say? What did Reilly Opelka say?” he shouted gesturing the crowd to make noise which they obliged and rained down boos. For the uninitiated Opelka was penalized by the ATP Tour in February after calling Allensworth the “worst ump on tour.”
Medvedev would ultimately end up winning the next two sets but lost the 5th and deciding set to be ousted from the US Open.
Watch the incident here
INSANE scenes in the Medvedev & Bonzi match at US Open
A cameraman was trying to leave after Bonzi missed his 1st serve.
The umpire gave Bonzi a 1st serve.
Daniil: “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… pic.twitter.com/nzlqgoWxre
— The Tennis Letter (@TheTennisLetter) August 25, 2025
“I’m getting big fine enough, so if I speak I’m in big trouble, so I’m not going to speak. Everyone knows what I talked about when I said Reilly. Reilly got fined big-time for this, so I’m going to get a big fine, too,” Medvedev later said in the post-match press conference.
“I was not upset with the photographer. I was upset with the decision. The delay from the photographer was probably four seconds and a half. I’m not sure it’s enough for a (first) serve,” he added.
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