Medvedev Fined at US Open: Fury, Rackets, and Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Daniil Medvedev Fined for Behavior at the US Open

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev was fined $42,500 for his behavior during his first-round loss at the US Open. The penalty, which represents more than a third of the $110,000 dollars he earned in the tournament, was imposed by the tournament referee, Jake Garner. Medvedev received a $30,000 fine for unsportsmanlike conduct and an additional $12,500 fine for racket abuse.

At the end of the match, Medvedev repeatedly hit his racket against the chair, destroying the equipment.

The former world number one, who won the championship at Flushing Meadows in 2021, was visibly upset on Sunday night. The incident occurred when the chair umpire, Greg Allensworth, allowed his opponent, Benjamin Bonzi, a second serve after an unusual interruption. Bonzi was on the verge of winning the third set, with a score of 5-4, when a photographer, whose accreditation was later revoked, began walking across the court at the Louis Armstrong Stadium just after a fault. Allensworth asked the photographer to leave the court and then announced that Bonzi would have another first serve due to the interruption. Medvedev approached the official to protest, at which point the situation got out of control. The crowd began to boo and chant: “Second serve!”. In total, the game was stopped for more than six minutes while Medvedev incited the fans and insulted Allensworth.

He wants to go home, guys. He doesn’t like being here. He gets paid by the match, not by the hour,” Medvedev shouted into the microphones behind the umpire’s chair.

Daniil Medvedev

After order was restored, Medvedev won that set and the fourth. Bonzi finally won the match with a score of 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4. This is Medvedev’s third consecutive loss in the first round of a Grand Slam, and the second consecutive against Bonzi, after losing to him at Wimbledon.