Medvedev Fined at US Open: Court Fury and Racket Destruction

Daniil Medvedev Sanctioned at the US Open for Unsportsmanlike Conduct

Russian tennis player Daniil Medvedev was fined a total of $42,500 by the US Open on Wednesday, following an incident in his first-round match. The former world number one received a sanction that exceeded a third of his $110,000 prize money in the tournament. The tournament referee, Jake Garner, fined Medvedev $30,000 for unsportsmanlike conduct and an additional $12,500 for racquet abuse. The incident occurred during Medvedev’s defeat in the first round, after a photographer entered the court during the match.

Daniil Medvedev was fined for unsportsmanlike conduct and racquet abuse following his incident at the US Open during the first-round loss to Benjamin Bonzi.Medvedev, champion at Flushing Meadows in 2021, was furious on Sunday night when chair umpire Greg Allensworth allowed his opponent, Benjamin Bonzi, a second serve after an unusual interruption. Bonzi was on the verge of winning, leading 5-4 in the third set, when a photographer, whose accreditation was later revoked, began walking along the side of the court at Louis Armstrong Stadium, just after a fault. Allensworth instructed the photographer to leave the court and then announced that Bonzi would have another first serve due to the delay. Medvedev approached the official to complain, and that’s when the situation got out of control. The crowd began to boo and chant: “Second serve!”. In total, the game was interrupted 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 per match, not per hour,” Medvedev shouted into the microphones behind the umpire’s chair.

When order was restored, Medvedev ended up winning that set, and also the fourth. Bonzi eventually won 6-3, 7-5, 6-7 (5), 0-6, 6-4. This was Medvedev’s third consecutive loss in the first round of a Grand Slam and the second consecutive loss to Bonzi, after losing to him at Wimbledon.