Daniil Medvedev Meltdown at US Open After Umpire Clash

Summary:

Daniil Medvedev’s US Open ended in chaos with a fiery first-round defeat to Benjamin Bonzi after a six-minute meltdown.
Medvedev’s sharp tongue and combustible persona led to a dramatic clash with the umpire and New York crowd, overshadowing his performance.
The Russian’s loss marked his third consecutive opening-round exit at a Grand Slam, sparking a mix of celebration and criticism online.

Daniil Medvedev’s US Open ended in chaos after the former champion clashed with an umpire and ignited the New York crowd in a fiery first-round defeat to Benjamin Bonzi.

The 29-year-old Russian, known for his sharp tongue and combustible on-court persona, is now trending online after a six-minute meltdown at match point that left fans, commentators, and fellow players stunned.

The drama unfolded late in the third set with Bonzi serving at 5-4 and advantage. A photographer walked across the baseline between his first and second serve, prompting chair umpire Greg Allensworth to call for a replay of the first serve.

Medvedev immediately erupted. He stormed over to Allensworth, taunting him with: “Are you a man? Why are you shaking? He wants to go home guys, he doesn’t like to be here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour.”

The Russian then turned to the crowd, whipping them into a frenzy. Booing echoed across Flushing Meadows as play was delayed for more than six minutes before Bonzi could serve again.

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

Though Medvedev eventually won that point, the set, and even forced a deciding fifth set, the meltdown overshadowed his performance. Bonzi ultimately sealed the match 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4, leaving Medvedev to smash his racket in frustration.

In his post-match comments, Medvedev blamed the atmosphere inside Arthur Ashe Stadium: “What I say and what I do, in my head, I want to do worse, and I cannot because there are rules, because we’re on a tennis court… the crowd did what they did without me asking them too much, and it was fun to witness.”

The Russian also referenced American player Reilly Opelka, who earlier this season called Allensworth “the worst umpire on tour.” Medvedev yelled, “What did Reilly Opelka say?” several times during his tirade, before admitting, “I’m getting a big fine enough, so if I speak, I’m in big trouble.”

Bonzi, ranked 51 in the world, was less amused by the theatrics. He told reporters, “Daniil started it, and he put oil on the fire. He went crazy with the crowd. Honestly, I never saw that.”

Still, the Frenchman called the victory “my best ever” after defeating Medvedev at Wimbledon earlier this summer as well.

Medvedev’s clash comes at a time when his form is under scrutiny — the loss marks his third consecutive opening-round exit at a Grand Slam. Fans on X (formerly Twitter) shared clips of his tirade, with some celebrating his fiery passion and others criticizing his sportsmanship.

The US Open, known for its raucous night sessions, has a history of player blowups, from John McEnroe to Serena Williams. Medvedev’s latest outburst now joins that legacy, with memes, hot takes, and slow-motion replays already circulating across TikTok and Instagram.